Nigerian Football Legend, Christian Chukwu, also known as “the Chairman ” passed away on Saturday, April 14 in Enugu, South eastern Nigeria.
Chukwu was Nigeria’s Captain when we won our first Afcon title at home in 1980 in addition to being voted Best player of the tournament.
He was a flamboyant Centre Back, commanding defensively but also very graceful in how he played out from the back to start the attack.
He was Captain of Rangers of Enugu when they won the CaF Africa Cup winners Cup in 1977, and led them to numerous League and Cup titles.
He won the League with Rangers as Coach, went on to win the FIFA U16 World Cup, Nigeria’s first in 1985 as assistant Coach to Sebastian Brodericks.
He was also head Coach of the Super Eagles, working with Dutchman, Clemens Westerhof as Nigeria won the second Afcon title in 1994 with the golden generation who then qualified for Nigeria’s firstvWorld Cup in USA 1994.
Chukwu will go on to Coach Kenya and later returned as Super Eagles Coach to Afcon 2004 where they finished third before leaving the role after failing to qualify for the Germany 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Emeka Enyadike pays tribute to the Legend
“Chukwu was one of my Childhood heroes and growing up watching him play for Rangers and Nigeria was always a treat.
First time I ever went to the Stadium to watch a Football League match, it was to watch Christian Chukwu and Emmanuel Okala face my home Clib, Sharks in Port Harcourt, it felt surreal.
It was a great pleasure to get to meet him in person later as I grew into the Sports media space as broadcaster, publisher and sports marketing Consultant, the many conversations and interviews, becoming good friends with him, but he was, and will always be my Hero.
My fondest memory was flying to Blantyre, Malawi in 2003 with a plastic chair to shoot a commercial with him on the backdrop of an Afcon qualifer between Nigeria and Malawi.
It was the first time he had received a commercial endorsement, and it opened the door to more, but he was a good sport all through the process, and trusted my instincts.
It was one of the most satisfying piece of sponsorship pitch that I ever did, because all I did was tell the clients his story.
He will be missed but as I always used to say to those critical of his last days as Super Eagles Coach. He will be remembered for what he represented as One of the greatest ever African Players.
Whenever I think about Christian Chukwu, it is those enduring memories of him leading Rangers or Nigerian team and how it always felt like he was a General leading his Army to war.”
