General Overseer RCCG Urges Equal Reward for Super Falcons’ Coaches After WAFCON Win

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on the Federal Government to ensure that coaches and players receive equal recognition and financial compensation for their roles in national sporting success, Sport360NG reports.

Adeboye made the appeal on Sunday during RCCG’s monthly Thanksgiving service held at the Throne of Grace Parish in Ebute-Metta, Lagos. His remarks followed Nigeria’s recent victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured their 10th continental title with a 3-2 comeback win over host nation Morocco at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.

In recognition of the achievement, President Bola Tinubu had hosted the team at a reception where all 24 players were awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), along with a $100,000 cash gift. Each of the 11 technical staff members received $50,000 and were also allocated three-bedroom apartments at the Renewed Hope Estate in Abuja.

While commending the president for his generosity, Pastor Adeboye emphasized that the coaching crew deserved the same level of appreciation as the players.

“I sincerely thank the President for honouring the Super Falcons,” Adeboye said. “But I find it difficult to accept that coaches should be rewarded less than the players. Without their guidance, the team cannot succeed.”

Although he was careful to avoid sparking controversy, the respected cleric underscored the value of coaching, using a personal story from his past to highlight their impact.

“I used to be a boxer in the 1960s,” he recalled. “Our coach was so tough on us that we thought we were being trained for the military. At the time, we didn’t understand his methods, but today, I’m grateful for the strength he instilled in us.”

He added, “He would make me push a wall as though I wanted to bring it down. That’s what great coaches do, they see what you can become and help you reach it.”

Adeboye’s comments add to ongoing public discussion surrounding the disparity in rewards given to athletes and their technical teams, even in moments of shared national triumph.