Meet the team

A football class can only be successful with outstanding coaches who share our deep passion for the game and who are capable of blending fun with education. Our coaches are picked through our strict coach recruitment process and passed through our coaching program to ensure that your child is in the best hands possible. 

Scroll down to meet some of our venue managers and learn a little about those who really make Samba Soccer Schools what it is.

Venue Managers
Lorent Bungu

Lorent Bungu

Tobi Ajobo

Tobi Ajobo

George Trinnaman-Bundy

George Trinnaman-Bundy

Kym Gayle

Kym Gayle

Ardan Edward Beveridge

Ardan Edward Beveridge

Orville Lockhart

Orville Lockhart

Mahdi Hamdi

Mahdi Hamdi

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Lorent Bungu
Lorent Bungu

I have been coaching at Samba for over three years, but my passion for football started at an early age. I support Manchester United and love the tiki-taka style of football.

My favorite part of coaching is watching young players flourish—seeing their confidence, character, and joy grow as they progress from where they first started.

At SSS, I most enjoy creating a positive environment where children can develop both their skills and their love for the game.

Tobi Ajobo
Tobi Ajobo

I have been involved in football since the age of four and have been coaching for the past eight years. During my playing and coaching career, I have won various trophies, but my greatest reward is giving back through coaching.

For the past two years at Samba Soccer Schools, I have helped players of all ages reach their desired football levels while teaching them the art of samba football.

What I enjoy most about coaching is the opportunity to express myself while helping kids grow in confidence and ability, whether they are beginners or advanced players.

George Trinnaman-Bundy
George Trinnaman-Bundy

I have more than a decades experience in delivering PE lessons, coordinating football programs and coaching football in four countries including clubs such as Leyton Orient, West Ham, Tottenham, London City Lionesses and FC Twente.

At Samba Soccer Schools I love the uniqueness of the program delivered to the players, it’s unlike that of any organisation I’ve seen before.

Favourite team: Cambridge United

Kym Gayle
Kym Gayle

Hi I’m coach Kym, I have been with Samba Now for over 5years. My initial path into coaching was through Samba soccer schools rising coach course.

They taught me everything I knew, however i left for a for year or two to persue the dream of winning an adults sunday league competition as a coach which I did.

I now alongside returning to samba soccer, manage/coach professional pre academy u8 footballers, but what I still love most about samba is how fun and enjoyable football can and should be made.

I would say my individual style of coaching is attention to detail and, patience and focus is a viture.

Ardan Edward Beveridge
Ardan Edward Beveridge

Football is my greatest passion, and for nearly ten years, coaching across England has been part of my every weekend.

I love seeing the joy on children’s faces as they get involved and fall in love with the game. Every week brings new challenges on the pitch, and I embrace the opportunity to make a lasting impact on my players’ lives.

Orville Lockhart
Orville Lockhart

I have coaching qualifications in nine sports, including football, basketball, and volleyball, with experience coaching both mainstream and adaptive sports like blind football and BOCCIA.

I am also a qualified match official in football, hockey, dodgeball and handball. I use a democratic, mindful, and holistic coaching style to support individual growth and development.

At SSS, I most enjoy watching pupils progress, build confidence, and thrive in a supportive environment.

Mahdi Hamdi
Mahdi Hamdi

I have been coaching at Samba for almost two years and love developing young talent. My coaching philosophy focuses on identifying weaknesses in a player’s game and using various methods to help them improve.

As an Arsenal fan, patience comes naturally to me – an essential quality for any coach!

At SSS, I most enjoy putting smiles on the faces of both kids and parents by combining skill progression with fun, engaging sessions.

A Word from our Founder…

Hey everybody,

I’m Nilio Bagga. Together with the help of my friends and family, I started Samba Soccer Schools back in 2009. Today, I serve as the company’s Managing Director, whilst a close-knit team of qualified coaches takes care of the football side of things – though I still like jumping in for a game now and again when I can! 

Having played semi-professionally in an overly structured and mechanical setting, I know how easily it can drain the life out of the beautiful game. Playing as a child, there was little room for personal expression, flair, and excitement. Everything had to be done by the book.

I hated this style of football, so my friends and I began playing more and more at school or on the streets. With some music on in the background and our best friends around us, we suddenly felt free and happy playing football. 

It was a feeling that remained with me even as I became an adult. Why can’t we have football classes that combine excitement, flair, and tricks that leave your jaw on the floor, with confidence building, structure, and a detailed development syllabus?   

This idea eventually served as the inspiration for Samba Soccer Schools. The aim was to take that same feel-good samba energy and introduce it to kids in a fun and friendly environment. I wanted to promote enjoyment whilst instilling confidence in young players so that they could express their natural happiness through football.

With that concept in mind, I earned my coaching badges, got my degree from the London School of Economics, and established Samba Soccer Schools.

Since then, we have helped thousands of children develop and showcase their skills, make new friends, expand social skills, and build confidence on and off the pitch – all while having an incredible time. 

We are proud of the work we’ve done so far and the families we’ve supported on our journey – but we’re just getting started. The next generation of budding football stars is already emerging, and we’re determined to keep improving so children under our tutelage can continue to realise their dreams and play football with huge smiles.    

This isn’t just my vision. Every Samba Soccer Schools team member is committed to the project and truly enjoys what they do. Samba Soccer Schools was born from my love of Brazilian football and culture, and that continues to be the cornerstone of everything we do today. 

We’ve worked hard for years to develop this concept into the successful and rapidly expanding business that it is. If your child has expressed an interest in football, or you’re tired of seeing them come home dejected from traditional football class, we would love to offer a free session so you can get a feel for what we’re all about.

Thank you for visiting our website, and we hope to see you soon!

Nilio Bagga

Founder and Managing Director

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