It’s so rare to see ministers of God having the urge for sports and also making themselves available for the day to day running of such recreational establishments but Bishop Olufemi Otusanya popularly hailed as Omo Majemu, Chairman of T.C.C.G FC and the presiding bishop of the True Covenant Church of God is changing the narratives following his involvement in his team NLO 2022/2023 campaign as he looks to do more.
Sports247.ng sat in a close discussion with this astute sports lover and minister of the gospel as he delves into the intriguing aspects of his life, his ministry and his commitment to using sports as a means to bring boys out of the streets and giving them another opportunity to meaningful living through football.
In this interview, Bishop as he is called spoke all about his team journey in the 2022/2023 Nationwide League one where they narrowly avoided relegation despite a bright start.
On his team starting well and then the sudden collapse after three games unbeaten;
“That’s the game of football, I was wondering at some point but I got to know that some of the key players had injury and they had to be rested. This is football, they have many years ahead of them to play, so we can’t kill them because of what we want to achieve, hence why some of them missed the major part of the season.”
“Also, loss of concentration sometimes can be part of it and I so much believe in God that he will always do what he wants and that’s what we will accept,” he added.
On Ministers of God combining football and pastoral duties;
“Football to me is a ministry. God gave me the grace to establish the True Covenant church of God twelve years ago and when the church celebrated its four years anniversary, God told me that we are going to have a football team, then after three to four years, God fulfilled his promises.
“I was told that it’s a ministry for the youths where I bring the players from the street, some of them are touts, we bring them from the streets and they are nothing less than sixty (60) players both the ones playing in the national league and also the ones in the academy.”
“Now, we have female footballers, we are planning to start athletics, basketball team very soon because God gave me the privilege to use sports generally to bring the youths out of the street to God almighty and that’s why you will see me that no matter what, I will come to the field to look at what they are doing because it’s part of my ministry. So I try as much as possible to segregate my time for the ministry (church) and also sports.
Addressing the challenge of funding for the project;
“On funding, I just believe in God because it’s not easy and we don’t have sponsors yet but God has been sponsoring and providing for us, there are sometimes that we will be down financially but God always raises us up in those times.”
Managing spirituality and demands of sports;
“God gave me the grace, it’s the grace of God upon my life because sometimes I usually look at it myself and people often say it that how do I have the time to do everything but the thing is that I have programs four days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in Alapere, Wednesday in Odonguyan, Tuesday in headquarters). Then I have Sunday services as well and minister in other ministers’ churches. I go to their training in the evening after the programs in the church and then when I have a program in the church, I won’t go to the field.”
“When I’m done with the morning program, I go there to see what they do because I admonish them, like my goalkeeper who was caught in an issue with the referee; I called him and spoke to him. I got the information because I wasn’t around when it happened, wherever they are, I get information so that I will be able to put them in the way of the Lord. I try as much as possible to have a time-table so that one will not affect the other.”
On plans to keep the team together and what’s next after this;
“We are coming again next season by the grace of God, we did not relegate. I have also bought the youth league participation form for my academy, they will play in the youth league when it starts and that’s under Bishop Omo Majemu Football Academy which is called BOFA, they are playing in the division two. We are doing everything to win souls into the kingdom of God.”
(Hallelujah…; laughs)
“When these boys came to our church, the way they behaved was so bad but now, I can see changes in their life and it makes me so happy. I usually tell people that even if I spend millions on winning just a soul, I did not spend it in vain. Others said I have spent without getting anything in return but well, God is the provider of his people and winning souls is key to His kingdom, so once we do that, he will open the doors for us and provide abundantly and I thank him for all that he has done,” he ended.
