Humble, pragmatic and resourceful, Fidelis Ilechukwu, is the chief coach of MFM football club of Lagos State holds the record of being the only coach in Nigeria to have taken a team from the amateur division to the elite division,he has also won laurels with the club among which is the world church cup hosted by India in 2014.
Similarly, he has tutored MFM Fc to win upon wins in his debut season in the Nigeria professional football league. In this chat with Sports reporter FEMI FABUNMI, the energetic and ebullient coach speaks on so many issues concerning, MFM FC, League Management Company(LMC) and the Premier League itself. Enjoy it.
Since when have you been with MFM FC?
I have been with them since 2007
Let us into how it all started?
Well, we started with church tournament 3 years after we joined amateur 2 from there we gained promotion to amateur 1, at the end of the day Bolowotan decided to give us their slot in the Nation Wide League, after spending few seasons we gained promotion to the elite division.
MFM Fc is among the top 4 in its first season, what is the secret?
To be truthful togetherness is the key thing, we have been together for years, and as such continuity has been what is sustaining us till now.Lest I forget, prayers , I cannot rule out the power of prayers, the church prays for us morning and night.
Your club finds it difficult to win away from home, what is the reason for this?
It has not been easy because we are new in the premier league,we are confronted with new level,challenges and even environment but believe me, we are coping gradually.
Do you think MFM has what it takes to actually maintain their top 4 position throughout the season?
In football anything is possible, I think we will definitely finish well at the end of the season, but I can’t really tell which particular position it will be.The most important thing is that this team will not relegate, infact that is what we are working on, not to relegate,so I cant really guarantee top 4 finish.
As it is, MFM plays its home games on Wednesday and away games on weekends, what this means is that fewer spectators would be available for their home games, what are you guys doing about it?
Seriously it isn’t our fault neither is it the management fault , it is the way the league was structured and there is nothing anybody can do about it.Let me tell you something the quality of play of my boys have really attracted spectators to the stadium in the past, so the time our home matches are being played doesn’t matter, what matter is the quality of play.
Some football enthusiasts have described MFM FC as the Barcelona of Nigerian Football, others described it as Leicester of Nigeria league, how would you like your club to be descrbed?
The truth is if you watch our game you will realize that we play like Barcelona, on the otherhand we also share a striking resemblance with Leicester City that just won the league in England,but let me tell you something ,football fans can liken us to Barcelona or Leicester truth is we are a brand and that brand is MFM Fc.
How do you rate the elite division compared to the lower division you played in last season?
Oh fantastic,the gap is so wide, a lot of things we saw in the Nation Wide league we aren’t seeing now,the elite division is a lot better and I’m using this medium to thank LMC , big kudos to them, they have really tried, the organization aspect have really improved.
Your club plays well in the first half and goes to sleep in the second, what is the cause of this?
Some persons have criticized us based on this, we have looked into it and discovered it is true, so we have tried to correct it now if you check our last 4 games you would realize something like that cannot be noticed i think it is a psychological thing but all of that have now been corrected.
So far in the league, which have been your difficult game?
the Rangers game is the toughest for me and my boys, they have a lot of experienced players in that team , they are very fast too, those players can shoot from long distance and they also have a very good coach.
Have you got plans to coach any of the national teams of Nigeria in the future?
Yes, the dream of every coach is to do that, anytime I am called upon I will oblige the call .
What would you want the LMC to change about Nigeria league?
Our pitches aren’t good enough, I really want them to work on this, these bad pitches aren’t helping our game at all.Moreso , they can still do more in the areas of officiating but the major complain is the pitches.
How would you rate the Nigerian league?
It is one of the best in Africa,our league have really improved, I cant believe they now play night football in our league.
Should MFM finish among the Top 3 this season they will play on the continent next season are they prepared for this?
Yes we are ready, the church is ready, the G.O is ready to support us to get there, nobody believe we will be playing in Premier league, at first the impression we got is that they don’t have the money but today, our salaries are being paid as at when due , our travelling allowance and bonuses are also very perfect.
What is the relationship like between you and club chairman Godwin Enakhena?
He is a kind man a father figure, he has really shown that he is indeed a good man.Nobody believed that he was going to continue with me but he proved them wrong including myself.
What has been your greatest achievement in football?
I must say a lot, the list is endless, in Nigeria today I’m the only coach that has brought a team from amateur to the elite division.i am also the first black man to win church worldCup, see I give God all the Glory, because without Him, I couldn’t have achieved those feats.
Speculations have it that every member of your team must attend MFM church, how true is this?
It is not true, although they aren’t turned back if they want but it isn’t compulsory, we have muslims amongst us and they can’t be forced to become a member.As a matter of fact, when I became the coach I wasn’t a member of MFM , I was attending catholic.
Who is your favourite player?
Laughs…. Every of my player is my favourite as long as he is doing well , so I don’t have a specific choice.
Where is Fidelis Ilechukwu from?
I’m from Anambra state, precisely Nnewi
Which other football club have you tutored before MFM FC?
I was at Talented Fc football club, the team is still existing, after which I joined MFM FC ,it’s been 10 years now at this club.
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