Olise began his career in 1977 representing his collegiate team in Ughelli. He was an all-rounder but started as an opening batsman and fielder, later becoming a right-arm 1st change bowler. He won the National Cricket League with Oyo State in 1985. The following year, he helped the team win its seventh National Cricket League championship as one of the top-scoring players with 20 runs.
In 1983, Olise made his international debut for the Nigeria national cricket team. In the West African Quadrangular tournament against Gambia, he took all ten wickets in a single innings which equalled the national record set by Chris Enahoro. Olise represented the country internationally until 1990, during which his playing style was likened to that of South African Jonty Rhodes. Olise immigrated to London in 1990 and had spells within English domestic cricket until 2002.
After retiring from cricket, Olise has since served as a deacon at Hayes Town Chapel in West London. He is the father of footballersMichael and Richard Olise.
Olise began his cricket career while studying at Government College Ughellii in 1977 where, aged 17, he joined the college team and simultaneously played for Bendel State's regional cricket team. Olise was an all-rounder; he began his career as an opening batsman and fielder, though he later became a right-arm 1st change bowler after his coaching by cricketers Ewa Henshaw and Chris Enahoro.
When Olise turned 18, he joined the Lagos State cricket team where he remained up to 1982. Olise then moved to Oyo State to attend university, and played for the University of Ife's cricket team alongside the state's cricket team. He was part of the line-up that lost to the University of Lagos in the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) finals in 1984. The following year, Olise won the National Cricket League with Oyo State at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval where he got four wickets and 24 runs. In 1986, Olise was one of the top-scoring players for Oyo State with 20 runs, helping the team become seven-time National Cricket League champions. Olise returned to play for Lagos State up to 1990, simultaneously playing club cricket for Foundations Cricket Club.
In 1990, Olise migrated from Nigeria to England and settled in London, where he joined the British West Indian Cricket Club. He remained with the club for three years and, in 1993, moved to the London Nigerians Cricket Club, where he remained until his retirement in 2002 aged 42.
International career
Olise was initially called up to the Nigeria national cricket team in 1982 for the ICC Trophy eventually making his international debut for the national team in 1983. During the West African Quadrangular tournament against Gambia, Olise took all ten wickets in a single innings which equalled the national record set by Chris Enahoro. Following this performance, he was dubbed Nigeria's Jonty Rhodes. Olise was also named in the national squad in 1989 in a call-up for test-matches against Ghana. He played for the Nigeria national cricket team until 1990, and was also invited to trial for the 1992 squad.
Personal life
Following his retirement from cricket, Olise settled in London where he has since served as a deacon at Hayes Town Chapel. He is married to Franco-Algerian Mina and they have two children together, Michael and Richard, who are both footballers. Olise and his wife Mina are active organisers of sports and multicultural activities in and around their town of Hayes.
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