WELCOME TO THE INTERVIEW SECTION MR GODWIN ENAKHENA
G. ENAKHENA: Thanks for the opportunity
FIRSTLY JUST A BRIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHY ABOUT YOURSELF
G. ENAKHENA: Godwin Enakhena, born over 40 years ago to late Patrick Enakhena and madam Beatrice Enakhena, mum is still very much around. I was born in agenebode in today's etsako east local Govt area of Edo state. I attended ogbake primary school n st peters college, both in agenebode. Degree in public admin from ambrose Alli university. I run global media that majors in everything sports, and everything legit. A media practioner, married to efe enakhena with two kids, emmanuel and ofure.
WAS IT YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAM TO GO INTO SPORT JOURNALISM?
G. ENAKHENA: No, engineering but interestingly, people around me knew what I was created by God to do.
KNOWING FULLY WELL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ENGINEER RIGHT NOW, DO YOU REGRET THAT DECISION?
G. ENAKHENA: It's a thing of joy to be doing what comes to you naturally and gives you joy instead of what your parents wanted you to do. No regrets.
HOW ARE YOU FINDING THIS YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
G. ENAKHENA: Fulfilling and paying off, including all my bills.
WHAT CAN YOU DESCRIBE AS BEING THE TOUGHEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
G. ENAKHENA: Learning from the masters in the business of journalism, learning page planning, writing stories and casting headlines in print.
YOU WERE APPOINTED CHAIRMAN MFM FC BY DR D.K OLUKOYA, WHAT DO YOU THINK MADE HIM HAND OVER SUCH PRESTIGIOUS POSITION TO YOU?
G. ENAKHENA: Dr Olukoya asked me in 2007 to help nurture a football team that will keep youths of this generation engaged in profitable things. So, we came up with the Dr DK Olukoya Int'l Youth Football Competition, which was held yearly and participating teams were drawn from MFM branches across africa. We formed a united MFM FC in 2011 when we joined the amateur league and it was only natural that I became the chairman according to the rules governing the NPFL.
SO HOW TASKING HAS THIS APPOINTMENT BEING FOR YOU DOUBLED WITH YOUR JOB AS A MEDIA PRACTITIONER?
G. ENAKHENA: It has eaten so badly into my time, it's tasking and it comes with plenty headache, hypertension borne out of the need to achieve positive results. I've plenty grey hair now, which I never had before MFM FC gained promotion to the NPFL.
MFM FC CURRENTLY OCCUPY THE 10TH POSITION ON THE NPFL LOG, WHERE WOULD YOU FANCY THE TEAM OCCUPYING ON THE LOG AT THE END OF THE SEASON OR SIMPLY PUT; WHAT IS THE CLUB'S TARGET FOR THE SEASON?
G. ENAKHENA: Top 10 finish but my coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu insists he will pick a continental ticket at the end of the season.
THAT IMPRESSIVE! TALKING ABOUT COACH FIDELIS ILECHUKWU, WHAT DID YOU AS THE CLUB CHAIRMAN TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE APPOINTING HIM AS HEAD COACH?
G. ENAKHENA: He was one of our players but picked up an injury and Dr Olukoya sent him to the National Institute of Sports to study coaching. So, he's been coaching MFM since 2007.
YOU MUST BE WELL IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HIS HAS DONE SO FAR AS HEAD COACH AREN'T YOU?
G. ENAKHENA: Just for the records, Mr Ilechukwu has been the brain behind all our successes; Church World Cup Trophy, Tinubu Cup, Boska Cup, FA Cup and our promotion to the NPFL. What more should I ask for?
IT WENT VIRAL RECENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT THE COACH WAS HANDED A THREE MATCH ULTIMATUM TO WIN ATLEAST TWO OUT OF THE THREE OR GET SACKED. HOW TRUE WAS THAT REPORT AS IT IS ALWAYS HEALTHY TO LEARN FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH
G. ENAKHENA: "My chairman didn't give me any ultimatum. I told the players in the dressing room that we must win two out of our remaining three games in the first round because our target is 30 points". This was what my coach told me when I confronted him and that ends the story for me.
RUNNING FOOTBALL CLUB IN NIGERIA COULD BE VERY CHALLENGING, WHAT HAS BEING THE CHALLENGES OF THE CLUB ADMINISTRATORS OF WHICH YOU ARE CHAIRMAN, AND HOW CHALLENGING HAS IT BEING FOR THE G.O IN SPONSORING THE TEAM FINANCIALLY?
G. ENAKHENA: The biggest challenge has been systemic. You are under pressure to win all your home games but I've always told our followers that if your team can go away and win why can't same happen to you at home? The G.O has been amazing with his support for the team in all ramifications. He pays salaries as at when due, feed all the players and houses them in a very comfortable accommodation, imagine me walking into his office one day and said 'brother Godwin, I think you people need a brand new bus'. And he delivered it.
THUMBS UP TO THE G.O. NOW LET'S DIVE INTO NIGERIAN FOOTBALL A BIT. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN OUR FOOTBALL BOTH AT CLUB LEVELS CONTINENTALY AND NATION TEAMS CATEGORIES ESPECIALLY THE SUPER EAGLES. WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD FOR OUR FOOTBALL?
G. ENAKHENA: It's systemic. What's working in Nigeria? What has not nose dived? Administrators are not allowed to enjoy stable tenures as a result of executive interference. Imagine the madness going on right now about one Giwa who should've been called to order long ago. If there's no stability how do you move forward? Where are the human resources? The footballers? Where are they? Amodu Shaibu said a few years ago that we've average players and Nigerians called for his head, who is right today?
It's a phase in the life of our nation, we must see it out. No short cuts. Question is, are we doing the right things that will take us out of this phase? Big fat NO is the answer. Quick fix won't solve nothing.
THE NFF APPOINTED ON INTERIM BASES HOME BASED COACHES FOR THE SUPER EAGLE SPEAR HEADED BY COACH SALISU YUSUF AND THEY HAVE DELIVERED SO FAR. DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE RETAINED AND ALLOW TO BUILD ON THIS?
G. ENAKHENA: They won't be retained for wining friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg, I won't do that. Let's go for a tried and trusted quality foreign manager that will be given plenty time and treated very well in all ramifications.
BUT WITH THE CRUNCH ECONOMY CRISES WE ARE IN AT THE MOMENT DO YOU THINK THE NFF WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD A GOOD AND REPUTABLE FOREIGN COACH?
G. ENAKHENA: Yes, we can always pay any coach if we convince would be sponsors about the values they stand to gain. Our biggest problem is successive Nigerian governments that won't stop funding sporting associations, especially the NFF. Let whoever wants to lead the NFF source funds to run the body, it's a very viable body. Goverments role should end in providing infrastructure pan Nigeria and subvention to help sporting associations representing the country and not spoon feed them.
NO DOUBT SINCE THE LMC CAME ON BOARD THEY HAVE REALLY IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF THE LEAGUE AND GIVEN IT GOOD STNDARD. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR THE LMC ON HOW TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE LEAGUE
G. ENAKHENA: Lets open up sponsorship of the league, make it competitive, that will guarantee participating teams more money and attract better pay for players and foreign plyers will come to Nigeria and even our players won't run to poor leagues abroad.
TIME TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE. WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL?
G. ENAKHENA: Paul Bassey, the veteran sports journalist, he taught me all I know in journalism.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
G. ENAKHENA: Watching sports and reading novels used to be my hobbies but I derive joy talking sports, delivering lectures now, these are my hobbies now.
WE ALL KNOW YOU SUPPORT MFM FC HERE IN NIGERIA, SO WHICH CLUB DO YOU SUPPORT ABROAD?
G. ENAKHENA: I proudly used to support The pride of England, the red side of Manchester, United until Sir Alex Ferguson left us unceremoniously but it's still united all the way!
GOOD TO KNOW WE ARE BOTH REDS! WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD?
G. ENAKHENA: Any well prepared African dish apart from goat head pepper soup. Why should I leave the best parts of a goat and be eating it's head?
SO WHAT CAN YOU DESCRIBE AS YOUR HAPPIEST MOMENT SO FAR IN LIFE?
G. ENAKHENA: The day I married God's choice of a wife for me, Efe.
TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SENT IN FROM FOLLOWERS OF THIS MAGAZINE: AKEEM BUSARI WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND STANZA OF THE NPFL
G. ENAKHENA: Keep all promises made to the players, that is the only way I can bring the best out of them. Operation top 10 even though the coaches and players are always quick to remind me that the target is the continent.
ISAAC AKOMOLAFE WANTS TO KNOW IF OUR REFEREES CAN BE TRUSTED ENOUGH TO MAKE OUR LEAGUE GROW?
G. ENAKHENA: The referees have scored pass marks in my books but I can wait for that day that our games will be on television, I know it's a matter of time.
IN CONCLUSION, WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE FOR MFM FC SUPPORTERS AND FOLLOWERS?
G. ENAKHENA: MFM FC won't disappoint them. Guaranteed always is scintillating displays that are result oriented. Value for money. They should also realise that there will always be bad days in every human endeavour. They should buy mfmfc souvenirs, that includes jerseys, mugs etc. And finally, buys tickets to watch our matches, free entries won't help us grow. We appreciate their support always.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME SIR, IT WAS REALLY EXCITING HAVING YOU AS GUEST. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP ON THE GOOD WORK.
G. ENAKHENA: You welcome and God bless you too.
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