Following Nigeria’s Super Falcons’ recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumph, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has called on the federal government to extend the same level of financial appreciation given to the players to the coaching crew.
Speaking during a sermon themed “The Winning Team” at RCCG’s national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye commended President Bola Tinubu for the monetary gifts given to the Falcons but emphasized that coaches like Justin Madugu deserve equal accolades and compensation.
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“I thank the President for the gift to the Falcons. However, I don’t agree that coaches should receive less than the players. Without the coaches, the team would not succeed. God bless the coaches—we need them,” he said.
Adeboye highlighted the critical role coaches play in shaping a winning team, noting that their experience and guidance are just as crucial as athletic ability.
“Wisdom is better than strength,” he said. “You can be strong and still lose.”
Recalling his past as a sportsman in the 1960s, he shared personal experiences about the tough training sessions his coach put him through, which helped shape his character and physical resilience.
“Back in 1960, I had a coach who gave us a tough time. At one point, we confronted him, wondering if we were being trained for the army. But today, I thank him. He built strength in us. He’d ask me to push a wall as if I wanted to pull it down. A good coach sees your potential and pushes you to be better.”
The revered cleric, also a former boxer, spoke about the importance of discipline and how life lessons from sports can be carried into other areas of life.
He shared a story about how a lack of discipline cost him and his teammates a scholarship opportunity due to their conduct at a formal event.
Encouraging worshippers to embrace hard work and maintain a winning mindset, Adeboye emphasized the need for divine support in achieving success.
“The God factor is key. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong—it is to those whom God has shown mercy.”
In a post-service briefing with journalists, Pastor Oladele Balogun, RCCG Region 1 Overseer and Special Assistant to the General Overseer, advised athletes to shun performance-enhancing substances and stay focused on hard work and divine help.
“In line with what our father in the Lord advised, athletes should work hard and, most importantly, seek divine support. Relying on drugs or artificial enhancements undermines discipline. If you’re caught, you’ll be disqualified. It’s not worth it,” Balogun said.
He further urged Nigerians to deepen their spiritual lives and rely on inner strength, noting that both faith and effort are necessary to overcome life’s obstacles.
“In Nigeria, before you win, you have to fight. And while God has His role to play, we must also do our part. Faith and effort go hand in hand,” he concluded.
 triumph, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has called on the federal government to extend the same level of financial appreciation given to the players to the coaching crew.){kind=link}