Vinning United FC team manager, Ikechukwu Nwankwo has given detailed insight on the management’s plan to continue the development of its players despite missing out on the play-offs of the just concluded 2022/23 NLO Division 2 campaign.
The lawyer of over thirty years who has been manager of the church-established team for over eight years admitted that there is obvious progress in the team and the boys not making the ultimate target doesn’t mean that it’s finished as there are extensive provisions in place to further support their growth and development by the church.
“It was very challenging initially. We lost our two matches but we showed a lot of potential and coupled with my convictions that we are going to do well, I was proven right in the remaining matches the boys played,” Ikechukwu who was reminiscing about how the season started in an exclusive interview with Sports247.ng stated.
“They have done well. We intend to keep them, encourage them, take them the furthest we can go with them,” he added.
“This is a church team that is backed up by God. When God backs you up, it might take time but you will eventually see the result and we are seeing the results with or without the play-offs.”
‘They play well, as a team with a clearly defined, beautiful pattern that makes them enjoyable to watch and they are backing it up with the necessary results which is a good one.”
On the initiative behind the church owning a football club – “it’s no longer unusual that we have churches investing in sports, MFM did it, T.B. Joshua had a team and a couple of other churches too in Lagos, so we are joining them to set the trend.”
“For us, it started with evangelism, a beautiful story and somehow we got it all together. The boys are from different backgrounds, like two players are Muslims but they join us once in a while for service.
We encourage them to do things in a godly manner and that’s the example we are trying to create for them,” he posited.
“This is the highest we have gotten since we started playing on this level. A revelation that God is with this team and he will continue to show his strength.”
Addressing the long-term future of the boys and the church’s plan to take care of them, he admitted that that’s not a struggle because there are plans and structures that will be implemented to see them grow in their chosen path in life.
“We are behind them to support them in whatever way we can. We are going to keep them together, play matches that will expose them, look at the recorded matches, and highlight those ones that are exceptional and market them.”
“If they play for a top European club, it is for our credit that we are able to give them a platform for them to excel.”
“There are really extensive plans for them, if all goes well, we might go for a tour in Europe because it gives them exposure while also marketing the club, and as God will have it, we might sell one or two players which will be a very good returns for us.”
“It’s a win-win for everybody but the important thing is, it is the Gospel, they must follow it and give their life to Christ, that’s where the joy comes from,” he concluded.
