The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has praised President Bola Tinubu for recognizing and rewarding the Super Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco.
Speaking during a sermon titled, “The Winning Team” on Sunday, August 3, at the church’s headquarters in Ebute Meta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye, who once trained as a boxer, addressed a congregation gathered for a service dedicated to sports men and women.
Reacting to the Super Falcons’ triumph, Adeboye said he was not surprised by the president’s gesture.
He applauded the reward while recalling the stark contrast to his own era. “In our own days all we got was a handshake,” he said.
However, Adeboye also used the occasion to advocate for greater appreciation of coaches. “I thank the president for the gift to the falcons however. I don’t agree that the coaches should get less than the players. Without coaches the team will not succeed. God bless the coaches. God bless them because we need them.”
Reflecting on his own sporting past, Adeboye shared a personal story from 1960: “Way back in 1960 I had a coach who gave us tough time. At a stage we confronted him and wondered if we being prepared to join the army.
“Today, I thank him for the strength he built in me. He would ask me to push the wall as if I want to pull it down. Your coach knows you can be better. If he does not push you hard then he is not a good coach.”
He went on to speak about the importance of winning and the wisdom required for it, challenging common clichés in sports.
“Don’t believe them that all that is important is taking part in a sporting event. If that is all that is important, how come they don’t give medals to failure. Nobody celebrates a loser.
“Years ago Nigeria won the world cup. The winning team were paraded all the way from the airport. When they lost in another match nobody knew when they entered the country.
“You must know how to win in life. It is not everybody who contest in a race that will win. To win you need wisdom. It is the principal thing. Get wisdom. Wisdom is better than strength. If you don’t know how to win you will lose.”
