why I set up MFM football club

• MFM General Overseer, Dr. OLUKOYA Explains

A few years back, when it became official that the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) had floated its own professional football club MFM Fc and in fact got promoted to the Nigeria professional league, this was unprecedented.  The club had wonderful exploits while its fairy tale run in the professional league lasted. The club was the darling of many football fans, especially its Agege, Lagos fans where the club represented.

Many found it hard to even imagine that Dr. Daniel Olukoya would even have time for football, much less owning a football club. But strange as it may sound, it is the fact, Dr. Olukoya is indeed passionate about football and has not hidden the fact. So strong is his love for football and sports as a whole that he’s gone on to make MFM the first church in Africa and possibly in the world to have its own professional football club. With a crop of young, talented players who were well paid and motivated, and with the General Overseer having taken over the chairmanship position of the club, the couldn’t help but have a remarkable run in the league. They surprised many football followers, beating some of the biggest clubs in the league and making their home ground, Agege stadium, a fortress where they won almost all their matches played there. It got to a point analysts were already asking everyone to brace up for a shocking outcome to the league, believing that MFM Fc were good for the title, but they fell just a little short of winning the title, losing the battle on the very last day of the season. And all of this achievement is down to the General Overseer’s passion for the game.

But the humble and respected man of God will be the first to tell you that setting up MFM Fc goes beyond his own passion for football and sports. It is mandate given to him by God. He spoke recently at one of the church’s weekly such day service held at the church headquarters in Onike, Lagos. Hear him: “It is part our 70- point agenda in Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, which is to reposition the youths of this generation for Christ Jesus, using sports as a tool. We all know the power of sports in the world so we are taking advantage of the power of football and other sports to win souls into God’s kingdom. We are not only using football, there are other sports like Athletics, basket ball and table tennis. The motivation is following God’s instruction to rescue the youths of this generation from the grip of Satan. This is a very serious issue that has to be addressed as quickly as possible. It is God’s mandate for MFM and there’s no going back. Fortunately, we are slowly and steadily making progress with our 70 –point agenda. All we are doing is engaging the youths in profitable ventures which are geared towards them having the fear of God and becoming better leaders for the country. Our youths must be taught God’s ways and this can only be done inside the church and not outside of it. We have also found out that with a football in one hand and a bible in another, the battle to save our youths from destroying themselves will be easier to accomplish,” he explained.

“Our vision for MFM Fc is very clear: We want MFM Fc to be a model club side that will be a reference point for other clubs in Nigeria and beyond, a club of champions that upholds the cardinal rule of playing fair always. We want MFM Fc to be a club where players will experience positive changes in their careers and become instruments that will eradicate poverty in their lineage and change their family fortunes through football.”

The club’s General Manager then, who was subsequently elevated to the position of Sports Director, Godwin Enakhena, also had this to say about the concept behind the setting up of MFM Fc: “You know, I keep saying this, MFM was not set up to be winning trophies. That was not the agenda. It’s about giving the youths the opportunity to showcase what God has given to them. It’s about getting them off the streets, giving them a lifeline and bringing them to God. That was the target. That’s what the G.O. Dr. D.K. Olukoya, a man whose love for children is unprecedented, wants for them. We discovered Stephen Odey, we discovered Sikiru Olatunbosun, we discovered Onuoha, we discovered Chukwuka, that’s the diminutive midfield player, and all of these guys have left. Now, as I speak, we are about to unleash the next super stars. Winning is not all we want. We want to discover the next Segun Odegbami in MFM. And of course, if we have an opportunity to compete and contest, we will do so.

This is why I am often at a loss for words when people, fans expecially, put pressure on the teram to win its matches all the time so they can win the title. For me, this has been the most challenging aspect of running sports in MFM. Of course, we want to win. I remember in those days, anytime we lose, the fans will say Chairman Oshi. The fans want us to win anyhow, either by hook or crook. We try to say to them, this is a church team, it’s not a worldly team. Yes, we’re going to compete as best as we can, but win or lose, we will ensure our fans enjoy good football. We will play football that is pleasing to the eyes. We’ll play sweet Brazilian football. You’re also going to see football without violence at Agege stadium. Every time, I tell the visiting teams at Agege stadium, listen, you’re going to enjoy beautiful football here. Nobody is going to intimidate you, the ref is not going to cheat you, just go out there and enjoy your game. People castigate me for doing this, but this is what I preach on radio and television and I have to practice what I preach. It’s a big task. I’m scared each time I go to the stadium and I hear, Chairman, we must win today o. But right now, I’ve moved on to the position of Sports Director, there’s a young man who’s managing the football aspect. There’s also the basketball part of it for women, right now, we’re at the very top and it took us just three weeks to achieve that. In the area of wrestling, we’re doing great too. You’ve heard of the story of Odunayo Adegoroye, they call her the dancing wrestler. We’ve got so much in the offing for sports as far as MFM is concerned. We are in this for the long haul. The cost of running the club has been enormous, but the G.O. has said that as the Lord liveth, He will continue to provide the resources.”

For Dr. DK.Olukoya, his passion for sports and football started as a young child growing up. He grew up like every normal child and participated in sporting activities. “My father was a police man and that meant we kept moving around Nigeria because of the normal postings in the Nigeria police force. I played football as an outside right, which is what they call No. 7 in today’s football. I was in charge of footballers’ kits at the Adekunle Police Barracks. I also did Athletics. I supported Stationery Stores of Lagos, the darling club of Lagosians. It was the club to follow then. Stores had great players like Haruna Ilerika, Peter Aneke, Baba Ali, and many others. I have two favourite footballers, one is alive while the other is dead. The late Thunder Balogun was my favourite Nigerian footballer, he was very good. Then Edson Arantes Do Nascimento aka Pele. Who would watch Pele play and not love him? He is one of the best footballers ever born.”

WALE LAWAL (08037209290)