The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called for better recognition and compensation for Nigerian sports coaches, emphasizing their crucial role in shaping successful athletes.
Speaking during the RCCGâÂÂs monthly Thanksgiving Service on Sunday at the churchâÂÂs national headquarters in Ebute-Meta, Lagos, the revered cleric lauded President Bola Tinubu for his generous rewards to the victorious Super Falcons, but expressed concern over the comparatively lower reward given to the teamâÂÂs coaching staff.
President Tinubu had recently awarded each of the 24 players of the Super Falcons the naira equivalent of $100,000, along with three-bedroom apartments, following their historic 10th WomenâÂÂs Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title win in Morocco. The technical team, led by head coach Justin Madugu, received $50,000 each, half of what the players were given.
In his sermon titled âÂÂThe Winning Team,â Pastor Adeboye applauded the PresidentâÂÂs gesture but questioned the logic behind offering less to the coaching staff.
âÂÂI thank the President for the gifts to the Falcons. However, I am not quite sure I agree that the coaches should get less than the players because, without coaches, the team will not succeed,â he stated.
âÂÂPlayers depend on the experience, direction, and technical know-how of their coaches. Coaches see potential and push athletes to be better. They should be equally appreciated.âÂÂ
Drawing from his own youth as a trained boxer in the 1960s, Adeboye recounted his own experience with a demanding coach who shaped his discipline and resilience.
âÂÂBack in 1960, I had a coach who gave us a tough time. At one point, we thought we were being trained for the army. He pushed us to our limitsâÂÂasking us to push walls like we wanted to bring them down,â he recalled.
âÂÂBut today, I thank him. He built strength and endurance in us.âÂÂ
Pastor Adeboye also referenced Revelation 2:17, saying that the Bible supports the idea of rewarding overcomers and victors. He noted that while in earlier decades athletes were lucky to receive a handshake, today's generation is now being honoured with financial rewards and housingâÂÂa sign of progress he welcomed wholeheartedly.
âÂÂWhen they said each will get $100,000, I said, âÂÂWow!â In our days, all we got was a handshake. Today, they get cash, homes, and national honours. ThatâÂÂs progress.âÂÂ
While the octogenarian preacher stressed he didnâÂÂt want to spark controversy, he maintained that equitable treatment of players and coaches was necessary to sustain and grow excellence in Nigerian sports.
His remarks come as conversations around athlete welfare and the treatment of sports professionals continue to gain momentum in Nigeria. Pastor AdeboyeâÂÂs intervention adds a powerful moral voice to the call for reforms and fair compensation across all tiers of Nigerian sports management.