MFM’s coach, Ilechukwu happy with team’s escape from relegation, resigns appointment

Coach of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club of Lagos, Mr. Fidelis Ilechukwu, has said he is no longer with the club that he helped gain promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

MFM maintained their place for next season’s NPFL, when a goal scored by Stanley Okorom, in the 24th minute, ensured that team achieved victory over Ifeanyi Ubah Football Club of Nnewi. The win means that Heartland Football Club of Owerri will play in the lower division next season.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Ilechukwu said he is particularly grateful to God that the team would remain in the top-flight football come next season. He is equally grateful to the fans, who stood by him, when things became tough and they couldn’t win in as many as seven matches of the league.

“The support from the fans was massive. They supported us through the most difficult period of our league matches; when thing were not just working for us despite all our efforts. But at the end of the day, we were not relegated but triumph through the mercy of God.”

Asked if there was any motivation before the crucial match, Ilechukwu said, “our past failure to win seven games without a win was enough motivation for our team. We really played, yet we could not convert chances and that really affected us. The next thing was that we found ourselves in the relegation zone of the table. That made the match against Ifeanyi Ubah, the game of my life because Ifeanyi Ubah and me came from the same place.

“I told the players that the game was in their hands and that it was a game of their lives. I told them to do everything possible to win all the three points at stake. Before the match against Ifeanyi Ubah FC, I had to monitor their matches to know their strong and weak points. At the end of the day, we achieved the victory that we so desired by God’s mercy.”

Talking about what the club needs to do to fortify the team for next season, Ilechukwu said: “I have resigned my position as the coach of MFM FC. The reason is personal and is something I may discuss in the future. As for the team, I think every department needs to be fortified aside from the area of goalkeeping. Part of the problem that we had was that our attackers were not converting most chances and that really affected our position on the league.”