Fides Media Living the Faith
By Mercy Hill and Sophia Ugwuoke
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has lauded the Director of Sports, Awka Diocese, Rev Fr Coach Obinna Dike, for his passion towards the running of DOSAD Football Club.
He made this commendation on Sunday 7 August 2022 when he had a night out with the team at the Fides Media premises. The visit was to build familiarity with the team and to give them fatherly encouragement and prayers.
It will be recalled that the DOSAD team is currently planning to embark on a playing tour of Iran and Bahrain.
In his address of welcome, Fr Dike welcomed Bishop Ezeokafor and appreciated him for making out time to honor their invitation.
He noted that some selected people had already talked to the players, but they were most blessed to have the bishop in their midst. He further explained that the reason for the invitation was for the Bishop to bless and pray for them.
Reacting, Bishop Ezeokafor appreciated the efforts of Fr Coach Dike towards the growth of DOSAD and the great heights which the club had attained. He harped on the importance of trustworthiness, humility, obedience, determination, and gratitude, which, for him, were the major keys to achieving success.
Bishop Ezeokafor encouraged them to count themselves lucky and blessed and charged them to bring glory to the diocese. He reminded them to inculcate the virtue of a typical Igbo man, who, he said, did not go venture far without remembering his home.
Regretting that some young men had destroyed their future with ill behaviour, the prelate advised them not to be distracted but to focus on achieving their dreams and also to make God the pillar of their lives.
He concluded by stressing the importance of starting well and continuing well in order to end well and be useful to themselves, their families, to God and finally to society.
The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese explained that not all Nigerian youth had the opportunity they had but noted that God, through the Church and their Coach, had helped them to attain their current height.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the team, one of the players, Mr. Emmanuel Chinedu Ezeakunne, from Achina, thanked the bishop for making out time to be with them and described it as a rare opportunity.
He pledged their allegiance to the Church, the Diocese and their coach, Fr Dike, who, he said, had counted them ‘worthy for this formation’.
He promised that they would repay all that had been done for them with hard work and resilience, even as he thanked Fr Dike for being a pillar of hope and support to them. Ezeakunne solicited for financial assistance from the bishop in order to make their planned tour of the Middle East possible.