Mr. Femi Otedola, the Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc., has given N18 million for the immediate medical trip and treatment of the sick former Captain and Super Eagle’s coach, Christian Chukwu. Chief Femi Otedola was represented by Phillip Akinola, the Chairman of Otedola Foundations, made this known on Wednesday in a visit to the Enugu home ofthe Couch.
He said that Otedola ‘s Foundationwould do everything conceivable to guarantee that the previous captain of the Super Eagles recaptured his wellbeing. He further said that the therapeutic excursion of the former football coach and current Technical Director of Renters International FC would be under the supervision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
As reported by https://sport.netbet.ng/, the NFF President, Mr. AmajuPinnick, explains that the NFFis grateful to all those that bring the news about the health challenges of Mr. Christian Chukwu to their notice because, without them, they would not have known.The sports association president extols the virtue of Christian Chukwuas a living legend, including that the NFF would not watch him suffer nor die an avoidable death. He said that it was a circumstance like that that made the NFF under his leadership to set up a scheme to provide for the needs of ex-footballers.
Pinnick argues that “Without players, there won’t be NFF. The football association will take care of him (the couch). We are sure it isnot only the obligation of the state government alone,” he said. Pinnickheld that the NFF was making arrangements to fly Chukwu to London for a medical procedure. “This check is to deal with his therapeutic medical procedure. We are in contact with the British Consular to orchestrate hismedical outing,” Amaju said.
Recalled that Christian Chukwu Okoro was born on January 4th,1951. He is a former Super Eagle player and former national team coach. A defender in his playing days. He captained the Nigeria national team to its first win in the African Nations Cup.While a young player, he became the captain of Enugu Rangers football club and the Nigeria national team in the late 1970s. He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament
Chukwu started his coaching career in Lebanon in the mid-1990s, before being appointed coach of the Kenya national team in 1998. Later, from 2003 to 2005, he coached the Nigerian football team, leading them to reach semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. During the 2006 World Cup qualification phase, Chukwu was blamed for inept coaching and management of the Nigerian national football team, and two matches before the qualifying campaign was over, he was suspended. In two matches – home and away – against eventual group winners Angola, Nigeria failed to win either one of those two encounters. This was blamed on Chukwu and those two crucial failures eventually led to Nigeria failing to qualify for the World Cup, after having appeared at all World Cup finals tournaments since their debut in 1994.
Chukwu coached Enugu Rangers to 6th place in the 2008-2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League (NPFL). However, he was sacked on 5 August 2009 for failing to reach the club’s targets for the season.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that the designation containing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and individuals from the State ExecutiveCouncil after the visit continued to the Nikea Specialist Hospital to get to the review his medical records in order to make arrangement for his speedy transfer to a London specialist hospital.
In appreciation of the support from the foundations, government and football association, the son of the former coach, Emeka Chukwu, gave thanks to the benefactors and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their interests in his father’s well-being.
