MFM FC chairman tells coach not to tarnish club’s image

BY ESTHER EGBE

MOUNTAIN of Fire and Miracles Ministries football club of Lagos recently had a brawl with their coach over his statement that the chairman quotes to be too costly and misleading. Apparently the coach had told his boys that he was served a three match ultimatum from his employers in a bid to spur the boys back to their winning ways.

Chairman of MFM FC Godwin Enakhena said, his coach (Kamara) told him he wanted to motivate the Players and confirmed that the management of MFM did not give him any Ultimatum. “Why drag the name of your employers into disrepute by saying you have been given 3 matches ultimatum when you have not been given any match ultimatum” he vented.
While speaking to the club official National Daily during the week, the young tactician claimed he was misunderstood revealing that the management has never for once put him under pressure to deliver.

He said: “I’m surprised about the news I’m hearing, I believe I was misunderstood by the media because the management have been so magnanimous to me and have never put me under pressure. Yes, I told Journalists after our game against Niger Tornadoes FC that we’ve all decided to garner at least six points out of the nine available from our remaining three games before the mid season break, this was a decision taken by myself and my back room staff. Truth is, the management didn’t give me an ultimatum. The coaching crew did this as a way of motivating the boys. I also told the players they’ve everything to lose if they don’t win these games because I can put my money on it that they can never enjoy what they are enjoying right now in any other club. Imagine free food that they don’t have to touch their salaries which is very regular, a conducive atmosphere where they can walk up to the chairman to solve all their problems, etc. And I added that I can get a job elsewhere. It was my own way of motivating the players and I thank God it worked and we defeated Niger Tornadoes with a depleted team ravaged by injuries and loss of three key players to the national team. I didn’t know this was going to come out this way because I’ve heard of ultimatums being given to people all over the world and it is to motivate them. Why is this big deal? However, I know I have ignorantly hurt some people, God knows I did this in good faith and I apologize to all and sundry for the way it has been misinterpreted,” concluded the young gaffer.

ALSO SEE: Roger Federer drops out of French Open

Enakhena however sees the entire saga differently, “Fidelis Ilechukwu is learning the ropes in all ramifications. He’s not used to the media. Fact is, MFM picked him up after sustaining an injury playing the game in 2006, sent him to the NIS for some coaching courses (not just one), paid his house rent, hospital bills, gave him an official car; all because we appreciate him. A bit of information on how I run MFM FC will suffice here…MFM General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya has made it a point of duty from the outset to pay Players and officials LMC’s minimum wage and this is done regularly (including April salaries), Players stay in a comfortable hostel with a generator set, dstv, indoor and outdoor games, free food daily, free medical, they’re backed up with prayers daily, etc. Coach Ilechukwu does not submit his team list to me, I don’t tell him who to play or not, I don’t go to his bench during matches to question his decisions and never will. Kamara is my coach and will continue to be until the only constant in life which is change happens naturally, this won’t be anytime soon. God bless MFM FC”