Fidelis Ilechukwu, head coach of Mountain of Fire Football Team (MFM), is not one to lie low for too long. Drama, he believes is part of the game and he loves to take it to theatric level when the occasion calls. Watching him marshal his boys at training sessions at the MFM sandy pitch, gives one a better understanding of the 39-year gaffer, who is at the forefront of the latest surge in Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
This is MFM second season in the Nigeria prime league and they have beaten top teams like champions Rangers International, Rivers Angel and El-Kanemi, and cruising home to a comfortable finish.
Ilechukwu, who is also the youngest coach in NPFL, loves to raise his voice and shepherd his boys in the most dramatic fashion. “I love the drama of the game and since I am a dramatic person myself I can’t lie low and not talk or move around. My players must feel me and I have to galvanise them with passion. Football is a passionate game and my job is to connect to my players and direct that passion to the right way. I must say that it has been working for us and why should I stop doing what’s been bring result.”
Ilechukwu can be remembered for his flag-to-flag sideline run to celebrate his side’s showstopper opener against Rangers International at the Agege Stadium last month. The goal, adjudged CNN Goal of the Week in March, got Ilechukwu racing to join his players. He flew off his line like a bullet in wild celebration, but for his dark suit, he would have blended nicely as one of the players. “That is who I am and I can’t change that… I’m a believer….before that game I told my players to just be themselves and go out and play their game. When I see a great goal, I have to celebrate it and that goal by (Sikiru) Olatunbosun is indeed one of the best I have ever seen. I am not surprise that CNN picked it.”
Ilechukwu’s path to coaching is even more dramatic, coming from a used cloth trader, into coaching, however claims his style is fashioned after his idol and model coach, Jose Mourinho. ‘I love José Mourinho because he is someone who turns nothing into something. I love drama in football and Mourinho gives plenty of that. You know with Mourinho, there is never a dull moment. He always has something to say before and after every game. He motivates me and I don’t mind been called after him”
“I don’t know how to hide my feelings and I love to talk the talk.” Once, last season he told his players that MFM FC management has given me an ultimatum to win at least two out of the remaining three games to galvanise them. The problem, MFM management did not. “That is my own way of motivating my players to give all,” he explained.
Ilechukwu speaks on many other issues in this interview with Taiwo Alimi.
Beginning
I’ve always loved coaching but as an Igbo-man (from Eastern region of Nigeria), I got into business first. I used to buy and sell used clothes and other apparel, but one day I just quit and gathered young boys teaching them on how to play football. That was what I was doing when a pastor with MFM, who has been watching me, invited me to come and manage their team.
We started from the scratch, but I got the support of all at MFM and we did well by winning all the grassroots trophies in Lagos. There are times when the heat was so much that I nearly quit, but the club management would prevail on me to stay. That is history now because we have weathered the storm to get to NPFL and in just our second, we are not doing badly.
Maiden NPFL season
We came into the season to prove that we are not pushovers but things did not work as we expected. I realised that NPFL is tougher than imagined. We became complacent after winning two games and that got into head of my boys. They thought they have arrived and when the draws and loses followed, they could not manage it well. Aside that, I was not fully in charge of the team, a lot of interference and at a point I wanted to walk back to my (Okrika) used cloth dealer business, but some people I respect a lot prevailed on me. Once we escaped relegation, I spoke my mind and the players spoke out too. The issues were addressed and coming back in the new season, it was like coming back on a clean slate, and the result is there for all to see. It is still a long short but we have proved that we can go all the way.
League champion shot
After we defeated Rivers United at home, we jumped to the top of the league and I actually said I wished the league could end now. I said that based on my sincere belief that we can occupy that space at the end of it all. We are second on the log now, but it is still a long shot and we have to keep our head down and take it one match at a go. By God grace, we shall conquer.
Role model and Style
I learnt at the feet of Coach Nduka Ugbade. He is my chief motivator and he is my father and a mentor too. He taught me many things and everything I learnt from him is working for me. That I am still at this job today is because of his encouragement. My style of coaching is charismatic and it is something I learnt from José Mourinho, who I considered to be the best in the world. I love José Mourinho because he is someone who turns nothing into something. I love drama in football and Mourinho gives plenty of that. You know with Mourinho, there is never a dull moment. He always has something to say before and after every game. I don’t know how to hide my feelings and I love to talk the talk. That is my own way of motivating my players to give all.
I love the drama of the game and since I am a dramatic person myself, I can’t lie low and not talk or move around. My players must feel me and I have to galvanise them with passion. Football is a passionate game and my job is to connect to my players and direct that passion to the right way. I must say that it has been working for us and why should I stop doing what’s been bring result.
That I am young is also a plus for me. It is to relate with the players. I have a cordial relationship with all of them and they look forward to training on a daily basis. It’s always important to have a good relationship with the players. It is not money alone that you can use to motivate the players. Getting close to them and knowing their problems can go a long way in raising their performance. I always give my players room to say their minds whenever they are not happy but it is must be done with discipline. I play with my players. That is who I am and I can’t change that. I’m a believer and that is why I celebrate well with them when they score. It is another motivation technique. Before that game against Rangers, I told my players to just be themselves, go out, and play their game. When I see a great goal, I have to celebrate it and that goal by (Sikiru) Olatunbosun, is indeed one of the best I have ever seen. I am not surprise that CNN picked it.
After what happened to us last season, we have fashioned out a way to maintain good discipline and it is a matter of getting to be in charge and been close to your players. I had that challenge last time and it means I am under pressure to prove that my style could work given the full support from management and devoid of interference. I want to prove some people wrong. We want to put players there because they merited it not to curry favours and so far, it is working out the magic and we would continue that way.
Aspiration
I want to be the best in this chosen career. I’m with MFM today, but I won’t be here forever. I aspire to coach bigger teams and one-day work with the national team. That is one of my aspirations. I want to give myself and prove that I have what it takes to achieve at the biggest stage.
