Maureen Edozie in Enugu
The former Nigeria national team captain and ex-coach, Christian Chukwu, popularly called ‘Chairman’, in the soccer world has been reported dead at age of 74.
Penpushing reports that the news of the death was broken on Saturday by one of his former teammates, Segun Odegbami on his facebook page explaining that he received the news between 9-10am on Saturday
“My Chairman has passed on I just received the news that between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, MFR, my bosom friend and team mate, one of the greatest football players in Nigeria’s football history, former captain and coach of Nigeria’s national football team, has passed on. Babuje, Emmanuel Okala, MON, gave me the sad news a few minutes ago! “May ‘Onyim’ find peace with Our Creator in Heaven, and console his family’, Odegbami wrote
Penpushing further reports that the deceased a decorated defender, had a distinguished career as captain of the Nigerian national team, leading the then Green Eagles to victory in the 1980 African Nations Cup.
This was Nigeria’s first AFCON triumph and the Super Eagles had to wait for 14 years before conquering the continent again at Tunisia 1994, and apart from his prowess as a towering defender, he had a successful coaching career, guiding the Super Eagles and Kenya’s national team.
Penpushing also reports that the late soccer warlord transitioned into coaching after his playing days, holding several roles at home and abroad, while in October 1998, was appointed head coach of the Kenya national team, and later returned to Nigeria to take charge of the Super Eagles between 2003 and 2005.
The record has it that during his tenure, Nigeria reached the semi-finals of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, but his time in charge ended under a cloud during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Penpushing reports that Nigeria’s failure to beat Angola in both legs of the qualifiers proved decisive, and he was suspended before the end of the campaign, while in the domestic league, he coached Enugu Rangers again and led them to a 6th-place finish in the 2008–2009 Nigeria Premier League season.
The deceased at a time was appointed the club’s General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, while in 2019, his health deteriorated due to complications reportedly linked to prostate cancer, and was taken to Wellington Hospital in London on the bill of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola.
Penpushing further reports that Chukwu was honoured with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his outstanding service to Nigerian sports, while he is remembered not just for his accolades, but for his humility, leadership, and unwavering passion for the sport.
Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report the family was yet to announce burial arrangement of Chukwu who mentored generations of players and was a symbol of pride for Enugu State and Nigeria at large.
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