By Danusa Ocholi
For friends and family of reputable FIFA-licensed footballers’ manager, pastor and philanthropist, Victor MacDonald, February 2024 will provide them to thank God and celebrate the Nigerian as he clocks 50 years.
The Nigerian who is currently based in the Southern African national of Swaziland, will be joined by nationals of the country to mark his golden jubilee with the presentation of his autobiography.
In Swaziland, the Nigerian who wrote the biography of Dr A.T. Diamini former prime minister of the country is held in a very high esteem.Apart from his closeness to the top echelon of government in Swaziland, Pastor MacDonald is held in high esteem as a result of the great impact his Ministry is making in evangelism and philanthropy.
More than any factor Pastor MacDonald has impacted positively on the image of his country Nigeria,which he left about eleven years ago to settle in the serene Southern African nation.
As his friends and associates brainstorm to use his golden jubilee which will be highlighted with public presentation of his autobiography,those close to him have been speaking on the rare qualities of this great son of Nigeria.
A notable sports journalist and promoter of sports,Femi Fasetire described MacDonald ad one of the most impactful men of his generation.The Lagos-based journalist,who did so much for grassroots sports in Nigeria said he first met MacDonald nearly 30 years ago when he was a student of Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu. The young MacDonald then had organised a fan club in the school for Nigeria’s iconic sports journalist, Elder Paul Bassey. MacDonald was able to meet Elder Bassey later and the Akwa-Ibom State-born sports journalist and administrator mentored MacDonald in sports writing and marketing.
MacDonald who largely attributes his success story in players management to Elder Bassey has brought to prominence players of repute with management ingenuity.
The footballers he managed as a FIFA-licensed agent cum manager include one of Nigeria best ever goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Paul Obiefule Mobi Oparaku and Falcons Perpetual Nwokocha among others.
Fasetire has watched with delight how a young boy he met when he was a student nearly three decades has been transformed into a great FIFA footballers manager, Pastor and international figure.
Speaking in a similar vein, Afolabi Gambari a critic and journalist of note reveals how his meeting with MacDonald aboard a South African Airways flight from Lagos to Johannesburg provided the chance to know each other and for a relationship that has stood the test of time.
This meeting by coincidence took place 19 years ago and they have been in contact since. Mr Gambari said MacDonald has involved him in his assignments within the country and in Swaziland and was even invited to assist him in executing a project a couple of years ago.
In all Mr Gambari said a book was not even enough to write about the positive impact MacDonald has made on the society, Swaziland and the world as a whole.
According to Gambari “I have never in my life seen a personality who has impacted positively, who has affected people in great manner as Victor MacDonald has done to the people. And humanity as a whole. I am a beneficiary of his philanthropy.”
Ocholi is an Abuja-based journalist
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