Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM) Football Club of Lagos celebrated its promotion to the elite class of the Glo Priemier League.

First Vice-President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi, has admonished Glo Premier League bound MFM Football Club of Lagos not to depart from the good qualities that earned the team promotion to the elite class of the domestic league.

Speaking at the celebration of the team’s promotion at the headquarters of the Mountain of Fire Ministry in Lagos last Friday, Akinwunmi who was glad that Lagos was going to witness topflight football again after over a decade, urged the club not to resort to winning at all cost as some teams are wont of doing.

“You should remember that you are a team representing the church. Your behaviour on and off the pitch is very important as you are going to the Glo Premier League next season,” stressed the NFF chief.

While also urging the team to embrace technology in the running of the club, Akinwunmi insisted that Lagos State government was not going to take over the running of the team from the church.

“ I am very happy for topflight football is returning to Lagos during my time as State FA chairman. In line with the policy of the state government, We are not going to take over the running of the club and nobody should expect Lagos State government will bring money into the team. We have made it clear that club ownership should be a private thing so that it can be run as business concern,” he further noted.

He also commended the founder of the team Bolowotan FC Toyin Gafaar who handed the club to the church to manage without collecting one kobo in return.

“For someone who is a muslim to hand over his team to a church speaks volume. The message in this uncommon magnanimity should not be lost on us all. There are Christians who own clubs that will not do it. There is a big lesson to take away from this,” observed the Lagos FA boss.

Gafaar who was present to witness the ceremony was in tears of joy that at last his dream of seeing the club play in the topflight of the domestic league has become a reality.

“My decision to give out the club to MFM has been justified. It was a difficult decision for me but I am happy I did without collect one kobo from the church. I am happy again because I still have three of the boys from Bolowotan in the team and doing very well.

“I had an offer of N16m from a state that wanted the slot but I turned down the offer and went to MFM. When I started hearing that I collected N10m from the church I laughed because those peddling such rumours did not know me and my vision,” Gafaar hinted at the event.

Special Projects Manager at the League Management Company, Harry Iwuala, in his message to the club urged its management to start thinking as a business entity now rather than as a CSR arm of the church.

“MFM need to explore the business angle of Premier League rather than the social aspect of it.
Big clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona are thriving because they are managed as business.
Clubs should be community-based to be able to raise funds.

“It is not necessary for the club to be run alone by the church. Let members of the church be part owner by investing in it. If well managed, they can begin to share in the profit made by the team,” stressed Iwuala who hinted that with the promotion players are now expected to have proper contracts to avoid some of the problems faced by some teams defaulting in wages.

Amongst several laurels in the chest of the team, MFM won the Nationwide League in 2012, won the Boska Cup in 2010, 2011, and the World Churches World Cup in  2014 in India.

FC Ikorodu is the second team from Lagos to also play in the in Glo League next season.
Some of the ex internationals present at the event include; Joseph Erico, Henry Nwosu, Peter Rufai and Victor Igali.