TEAM OLABODE: THE FIRST TO BREAK THROUGH
Celebrating Leduc’s First‑Ever Tier 1 Team
The Team That Opened the Door to Tier 1
Tier 1 represents the highest level of youth competition in the province—where the strongest clubs, deepest talent pools, and most demanding environments converge. It’s where players face faster decisions, sharper tactics, and opponents who push them to elevate every part of their game.
For the first time in Leduc’s history, a youth team has earned its place in the Tier 1 club stream. That team is Team Olabode—a team built on discipline, unity, sportsmanship, and a relentless commitment to development. Their rise marks a defining moment for Leduc Soccer Association and Black Gold FC, signaling a new era of opportunity for young athletes across the Battle River region.
The journey to Tier 1 was not a single‑season story. It was a multi‑season climb shaped by consistency, resilience, and a competitive identity that strengthened with every campaign.
2024/25 Indoor Season — The Foundation
Team Olabode entered the competitive league representing Leduc Soccer Association in the 2024/25 indoor season. Under Head Coach Matt Olabode and Assistant Coaches, Glenn Patterson and Kelly Patterson, the team quickly established itself as a dominant force in Tier 3. Their fast, fearless style of play produced sixteen wins from seventeen matches, with one hundred forty‑five goals scored before mercy rules and only twenty‑four conceded.
The season concluded with a Gold medal victory at the 2025 Slush Cup, a moment that signaled the emergence of a team ready for greater challenges.
2025 Outdoor Season — The Ascent
Head Coach Matt Olabode, supported by Assistant Coaches Roch Aubin and Chris Huska, guided the team into what would become a historic campaign. With promotion to Tier 2, Team Olabode entered the outdoor season facing stronger opponents and higher expectations. They responded with maturity and consistency, finishing the season with eleven wins, one loss, and two draws. In tight matches, specially those decided in final minutes, the team showed remarkable composure, choosing patience over panic and discipline over desparation. Their fifty goals for and nineteen against reflected a team that had grown tactically and technically.
The season ended with another championship performance—Gold at the SGSA Moon Tournament. Two seasons, two divisions, two gold medals. The upward trajectory was unmistakable.
2025/26 Indoor Season — A New Badge, A New Era
The next chapter brought a new crest. Representing both the Leduc Soccer Association and Black Gold FC, Team Olabode entered the 2025/26 indoor season with renewed purpose.
They opened the season by winning the 2025 COPA Tournament—the first gold medal ever earned for Black Gold FC. Their league performance was equally impressive, finishing with a 7‑0‑1 record, thirty‑nine official goals scored, and a +23 goal differential.
February 7, 2026 — A Day That Made History
The Team's dominance secured them the top seed in U10 Tier 2 for the Indoor Season and ultimately delivered the first Tier 2 Indoor Gold medal in the history of Leduc Soccer and the entire Battle River region. The early morning of February 7, 2026, became a landmark date for Leduc and district when Team Olabode captured the Championship Gold for the 2026 EMSA Indoor Season.
That same day, the U15B Tier 3 Boys added a Championship Gold of their own. It was a day that showcased the strength and depth of Leduc’s competitive programs and underscored the momentum building around Team Olabode.
This season became the springboard that propelled the Team into Tier 1.
March Mayhem 2026 — The Final Chapter Before Tier 1
The last major event before Team Olabode’s elevation to the Tier 1 club stream came at the March Mayhem Tournament 2026 in Calgary. Held from March 26–29, the tournament brought together some of the strongest U10 teams in Alberta, and Team Olabode delivered one of its most complete performances to date.
They advanced to the final undefeated, scoring seventeen goals and conceding only four across group play. Their balanced attack, disciplined structure, and composure under pressure made them one of the standout teams of the event. The championship match against CalGlen Thunders was a true meeting of equals, with both teams entering undefeated and carrying nearly identical goal differentials.
The final was fast, intense, and fiercely competitive. After a 3–3 draw in regulation, the title was decided by penalty shoot-out, where CalGlen edged ahead. Team Olabode left Calgary with silver medal and a performance that confirmed their place among the province’s elite.
March Mayhem became the final milestone in their journey—a tournament that showcased their readiness for the highest competitive level and set the stage for their historic entry into the Tier 1 club stream.
The Legacy of Team Olabode
Across three seasons, and multiple divisions, Team Olabode has consistently demonstrated the qualities that define a model youth program: discipline, structure, sportsmanship, competitive spirit, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
They showed the character that defined their rise—competing with intensity while consistently demonstrating respect and empathy for their opponents. Their ability to hold their own at higher levels of play never came at the expense of sportsmanship, which remained a core part of their identity.
Behind every milestone stood a group of unsung heroes—their parents and guardians. They contributed to the environment that allowed these athletes to thrive. Their commitment, positivity, and belief in the team became one of the quiet engines behind this historic rise.
Team Olabode's elevation into the Tier 1 club stream is not just a reward for past success—it is a milestone for Leduc and the entire district.
Team Olabode is the first to reach Tier 1. They are the Team that set the standard for Leduc and District's Tier 1 era.