By OLAYINKA LATONA
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has offered prayers for the restoration of Nigeria’s former dominance in international sports.
The respected cleric spoke during the August special Thanksgiving service and prayer session for sports stakeholders, real estate developers, and their families at the church’s national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
The service was themed “Divine Champion.”
“Lord, we pray that through the sportsmen, including the stakeholders, you will restore those glorious days in sport, particularly in Africa, and Nigeria,” Adeboye said.
“Those who are connected with sport one way or the other, that by the special grace of God, they will keep on succeeding, that all the glories that Nigeria used to enjoy in the past in sport would be restored. There was a time when Nigeria won the World Cup. That such glorious days would return.”
Drawing from Ephesians 6:12, which describes life as a continuous wrestling match, Adeboye used boxing as an analogy for the Christian journey, defining a champion as “the man who remains standing after the boxing bout, with his hand raised in victory.”
According to the revered pastor, becoming a champion requires three essential elements: strength, wisdom, and a good coach.
“By strength shall no man prevail,” Adeboye declared, quoting from 1 Samuel 2:9. He noted that one’s own strength is often insufficient in life’s battles, adding that “when you get into a real battle, you will soon realize the saying of our elders that it is the one who has never seen battle who calls himself a man.”
The cleric stressed that even the strongest individuals grow weary and need divine assistance, referencing Isaiah 14:29-31, which speaks of God giving strength to the weak and renewing the strength of the youth.
Addressing the need for wisdom, Adeboye drew lessons from legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, whom he described as his hero. He recounted how Ali would intentionally provoke opponents, knowing that an angry fighter becomes careless in the ring.
“You need God, you need one who knows all things,” Adeboye said, cautioning that even those closest could become adversaries when the moment of truth arrives.
The General Overseer also emphasized the importance of a good coach who is never satisfied with a boxer’s current level because they know improvement is possible.
“Your friend is your friend because he likes you the way you are. A good coach is never satisfied with the way you are because he knows you can be better,” Adeboye explained.
He identified Jesus Christ as the best coach, one who inspires and guides believers through life’s battles.
Adeboye offered strategic advice, telling the congregation: “When they knock you down, stay down until they count to eight. Let your opponent think you are weaker than you are. Stay down there, rest, and then come up refreshed.”
The man of God encouraged prayer as a source of renewal and resilience, stressing that “a champion is not someone who has never made a mistake. We all do. And the higher you are, the more terrible your mistakes will be. Take it easy. Stay with God. Regain your strength.”
He concluded with prayers that every challenge facing attendees would be overcome, and that in the name of Almighty God, they would have the last laugh.
Addressing journalists after the special spiritual exercise, Pastor Oladele Balogun, the man Pastor-in-Charge of Region One, as well as Special Assistant to the General Overseer of RCCG on Administration, charged Nigerian parents to instil the values of discipline and integrity in their wards in order to checkmate societal ills and restore dignity back to the country.
Pastor Balogun said the ills in society today have gone from bad to worse because the home (parents) which is the mini-society has failed in its civic responsibility of instilling moral values in their children.
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