WAFCON: Adeboye sends powerful message to Tinubu
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that football coaches receive fair and equal recognition for their efforts.
This follows the recent triumph of Nigeria’s Super Falcons at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Speaking during his sermon titled “The Winning Team” at RCCG’s monthly Thanksgiving service held at the Throne of Grace Parish, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye applauded President Bola Tinubu for the financial gesture extended to the victorious team but maintained that coaches, such as Justin Madugu, deserved the same treatment as the players.
“I appreciate the President for rewarding the Falcons,” Adeboye said.
“But I find it difficult to understand why the coaches would get less. The players are stars, yes, but without the guidance of their coaches, there would be no victory. Coaches matter deeply, God bless them,” he added.
After the Falcons clinched the WAFCON title, President Tinubu had announced a reward of $100,000 (in naira equivalent) for each of the 24 squad members, a move widely praised across the country.
He announced $50,000 each for the coaches.
However, Adeboye pointed out that the coaching crew’s role is just as pivotal and must not be overlooked in moments of celebration.
“Wisdom is greater than strength,” he said. “You may have the physical power but still lose without strategic direction. That’s what coaches bring-insight, experience, and motivation.”
Drawing from his own past as a sportsman, Adeboye recounted his experience as an athlete in the 1960s, where a stern coach left a lasting impact on his development.
“Back then, our coach really worked us hard,” he recalled.
“There were times we thought we were being trained for military service, not sports. He once told me to push a wall like I intended to bring it down. But today, I thank him. He saw in us what we couldn’t see and pushed us until we became better,” he said.
Adeboye, who revealed he was once a boxer, said that sports teach discipline, humility, and life lessons far beyond the field of play.
He also told a story of how he and his fellow students once missed out on a scholarship opportunity because of poor behaviour during a formal dinner, reinforcing the importance of discipline both in and out of sports.
Encouraging his congregation to embrace diligence and the mindset of winners, Adeboye urged them to strive for excellence and never settle for mediocrity.
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