Au revoir, Chairman Chukwu

ON Saturday,  April 12, one of Nigeria’s football greats, Christian Chukwu, breathed his last. The former Green Eagles captain, Super Eagles head coach and Enugu Rangers player/coach died at the Niger Foundation Hospital in Enugu State, aged 74. Leading the tributes train, President Bola Tinubu said: “Christian Chukwu was more than a footballer and coach. He was a symbol of excellence and patriotism. He brought joy to millions, mentored a generation of footballers, and stood as a pillar of Nigerian brand and sportsmanship on and off the pitch. His legacies will continue to live on in the trophies he won, the lives he touched, and the exciting moments he provided to football fans and spectators on the field and in the technical area. We are forever grateful for his contributions to the sport we all love, and we will always remember him with great respect and admiration.”

On his part, Lagos State governor, Babajide  Sanwo-Olu, described Chukwu’s passing as “a painful loss to the country.” Recalling his stint as Super Eagles coach, General Manager and CEO of Rangers International F.C. and coach of the Kenya national team, Sanwo-Olu added that the man popularly called “Chairman” captained the Green Eagles from 1974 to 1980, leading Nigeria to its first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1980. In a similar vein, Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, described Chukwu as a “national icon, a football titan, field marshal and phenomenon” whose achievements transcended sports. Mbah added: “He was patriotism personified, serving the nation and Africa unreservedly both as a player and coach of the highly successful Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and Super Eagles of Nigeria.”

Ex Green Eagles/Super Eagles Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, described Chukwu’s death as unfortunate, saying that “no one expected such news”, while former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, described him as a “respected and down-to-earth person.” He added: “Every player loved to associate with him. We watched him play as a talented Rangers player when we were very young and growing up. Time will never be enough to express the pain that has hit the entire football circle at this moment. He was an inspiration to many millions, a reference of yesterday, today and always. Chairman expressed so much affection to his teammates, especially to his players as a coach.” Also, the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Gbenga Elegbeleye, described Chukwu as one of the icons of league football in Nigeria, adding the story of club football in the country was incomplete without a mention of Christian Chukwu.  His words: “Christian Chukwu stands out in the annals of club football. He not only spent his entire football career in our league, he equally took to coaching the younger ones and went on to win the league as a player and a coach. His views were echoed by the Director General, National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, who said: “Chukwu is a true icon, a leader of men, and a national hero whose contributions to the growth of Nigerian football will never be forgotten. He was not just a footballer; he was a symbol of pride, discipline, and excellence.”

The tributes are well deserved. Christian Chukwu really lived and breathed football and gave Nigerians many happy moments. As we noted on this page on January 12, 2021 while celebrating him on his 70th birthday: “Chukwu is one of the few crop of footballers who have the distinction of bringing Nigeria the Africa Cup of Nations glory both as a player and as a coach. Chukwu was captain of the Green Eagles team that won Nigeria’s first Afcon Cup in 1980. Nigerians will always honour him as the first captain to lift the Africa Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament played in Lagos. He was subsequently named the Player of the Tournament. Although two other triumphs followed in 1994 (Tunisia) and 2013 (South Africa), there can be no doubt that the 1980 triumph opened a floodgate of victories and enhanced self-belief among the senior national team players. What is more, Chukwu was Nigeria’s Head Coach in Tunisia 94 when the Super Eagles, parading such timeless names as Rashidi Yekini, Stephen Keshi, Victor Ikpeba, Augustin Eguavoen, Sunday Oliseh, Austin Okocha, Mutiu Adepoju, Emmanuel Amuneke and Ben Iroha, among others, played what is arguably Nigeria’s best brand of football till date. He was also at USA 94 where the Super Eagles marked their arrival on the global stage in grand fashion. Of course, both in Tunisia and the United States, Chukwu served under Dutchman Clemens Westerhof, the Eagles’ Technical Adviser and master tactician. A defender in his playing days, Chukwu served as captain of Enugu Rangers Football Club and the Nigeria national team in the late 1970s. In 1977, he led Rangers to win the year’s edition of the African Cup Winners Cup. He exported his coaching career to Lebanon in the mid-1990s, before being appointed coach of the Kenya national team in 1998.

“Between 2003 and 2005, he served as Super Eagles coach, taking the team to the  semifinals of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. He was also the Eagles’ coach during the failed 2006 World Cup qualification campaign, being suspended two matches before the end of the qualifiers. And even though he took Enugu Rangers to sixth place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League, he was sacked in August 2009 for failing to reach the club’s targets for the season. While he was justly blamed for the losses at the national team and Enugu Rangers, at no time was his passion and commitment to the game ever called into question.”

Born on January 4, 1951, in Obe community in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chukwu, the son of a butcher, overcame parental resistance to take the footballing world by storm. As player and manager, he gave his all. He will never be forgotten. It is fair to remark that in his day, footballers were dedicated to the nation and so passionate about the game; it was not so much money at the time. Players had great zeal to excel.  We commiserate with the family and friends of Mr Chairman. May his soul rest in sweet repose.

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