Over 3,000 young boys and girls across the country will gather at the Prayer City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the maiden MFM Youth Games, which begin today.

According to the organisers, the athletes from different zones of the church will contest for medals in football, basketball, athletics, hockey, scrabble, chess, tennis and table tennis, among others, at the Prayer City. They said that the football event for boys and girls will be held at the Mountain Top University’s sports centre.

Speaking at the unveiling of the Games in Lagos at the weekend, Director of Sports at MFM, Godwin Enarkhena, said that the event is in continuation of the church’s General Overseer, Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya’s “Youth Repositioning Agenda,” which has given many talented Nigerian youths the opportunity to develop their skills to the highest level.

He said: “The MFM has produced such Commonwealth Games, Olympics and World Championships medallists as Ese Brume and Tobi Amusan, who featured in the DK Olukoya Athletics Championships and grew from there to become Olympic medallists.

“In wrestling, we have seen Odunayo Adekuoroye and her younger sister, Mercy, rise to international acclaim, just as the current Super Eagles Captain, Wilfred Ndidi, is a boy we picked, trained and saw him move to the Golden Eaglets, and he is now playing professional football in Europe.”

“There are so many others in basketball; in fact, our basketball team has represented Nigeria in many international competitions after winning the national championships.

“Now, we want to give the same opportunity to a new crop of talents to stake their claims in various events, be scouted by professional scouts and grow from there.”

Enarkhena disclosed that winners in various events would be rewarded with cash prizes and trophies, while the overall winner will go home “with fantastic prizes, including cash and other items.”

Earlier in his opening speech, Chairman of the MFM Praise and Worship Association, Pastor Pius Oragwu, admonished the participants to see the Games as another avenue to share the message of “our Lord Jesus Christ” and reach out to many people who may not necessarily be Christians.

He thanked Dr Olukoya for consistently looking out for the young ones, while encouraging the sportsmen and women to be of exemplary behaviour during the Games.

Also speaking at the event, Pastor Michael Akinola told the athletes to see the MFM Youth Games as an opportunity to rise above the ordinary, explaining that the Bible supports sports.

“Our Father in the Lord has great compassion concerning so many things, and particularly concerning the youths.

“This is a good place for the youths to grow in sports and in the service of the Lord. I believe that at the end of these Games, we will discover more champions.”