How Government Can Immortalise Christian Chukwu – Ex-Internationals
Former Super Eagles players have urged the Federal Government to honour the memory of the team’s former captain, and coach, Christian Chukwu popularly known as ‘Chairman’.
Chukwu died on April 12 at the age of 74 following a protracted battle with prostate cancer.
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 in Lagos.
As a player, Chukwu captained the Nigerian national team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980.
He was in the Nigerian squads that won the Africa Nations’ Cup in 1980 and finished runners-up in 1976 and 1978.
He also assisted Dutch coach Clemens Westerhof when Nigeria won a second AFCON title in 1994.
Chukwu was a charismatic leader who became the captain for club and country before the age of 25, he won the best player of the tournament when he led Nigeria to the 1980 Nations Cup trophy.
He was a one-man club who played his club football for his hometown club Enugu Rangers from 1972 to 1981
Former Nigerian players, who spoke to The WHISTLER in an exclusive interview, opened up on how the Government can immortalise Christian Chukwu, a man who brought glory and honour to Nigeria during his days.
Former Super Eagles star, Etim Esin, who played under Christian Chukwu when he was an assistant to Clemence Westerhof, described him as a disciplinarian while urging the government to preserve his memory by honouring him appropriately.
Etim Said: “He was a very disciplined man, he was closer to me than Westerhof, we looked up to their generation then with the likes of Henry Nwosu, Segun Odegbami and many others we were very proud of them for winning the 1980 Nations Cup. Esin told The WHISTLER.
“The Government can immortalise him by naming the Stadium in Enugu after him also by hosting Christian Chukwu football tournament credit to the likes of Amaju Pinnick, and Femi Otedola who flew him to London for treatment.
Etim also called on the government to look in the direction of ex internationals who are struggling to survive by providing retirement benefits for players, coaches who have done well for Nigeria.
“The Government needs to cater for ex internationals who are finding it difficult to survive by providing retirement benefits for them, not long after Chukwu died, Charles Bassey also passed on, he was the coach who discovered me at Calabar Rovers.
“Some of these people are living in penury, it is very painful the way the government is treating people who have done well for Nigeria.
“Sometimes we can’t even put food on our table to pay children’s school fees is difficult, my son has told me he doesn’t want to play football, Abedi Pele’s son plays football because Ghana gave him a platform but because of the way we are being treated in Nigeria our children don’t want to follow that path they want to choose their own path.
“If the Federal Government can’t do it, let the state government help the players from their state and ensure they don’t regret playing for Nigeria.”
Similarly, Former Super Eagles midfielder Friday Elahor described Chukwu as a commander on the pitch while calling on the Government to celebrate him on a yearly basis.
Elahor said: “Chukwu was a legend, a nice man and a great player, we have lost a great man who was a commander on the pitch and Nigerian football will miss him. Elahor told The WHISTLER.
“The Government needs to immortalise him. He was the captain of the national team and the captain of Rangers. Both governments should come together to honour him. That will make the whole world know that Nigeria has done something because anything short of something befitting will not be good.
“Because some people are still complaining that the government has not properly honoured Okwaraji but this time around they need to ensure Chukwu is properly remembered. There should be a kind of remembrance day every year to celebrate him like a legend that he was who was influential for Nigeria and Enugu.”
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph said Chukwu’s legacy will live forever, and urged the football sector to honour the former Rangers coach.
Dosu said: “Chukwu was a man of honour, he was part of the generation that laid the foundation of football in Nigeria. Unfortunately, he is no more, but his legacy still lives forever. What he has done for Nigeria when it comes to football will speak for him and for his next generation.” Dosu Told The WHISTLER
“While we wait for the government to immortalise him, the football sector should also ensure that his memory lasts longer and the government should decide what they deem fit.
“It is unfortunate that footballers start their career at a very tender age and when it comes to retirement it is very difficult but few people overcome it because a lot of people did not think of retirement because you might be playing for 10 to 15 years and you get injured and some won’t recover from the injury.
At the same time, we should be able to do things by ourselves. We should not leave everything for the government. We have done what we can do but if the government decides to support us good but we leave it for them to judge.
Similarly, Sports Journalists who spoke with The WHISTLER also urged the government to immortalise Christian Chukwu in a befitting way.
Jide Olaniran called on the government to rename the National Stadium after Christian Chukwu.
Olaniran said: “As the captain of the 1980 Green Eagles that won Nigeria’s first AFCON title at the prestigious National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. That sports edifice that is dilapidated should be revamped or reconstructed if possible and named after the late footballer.” Olaniran told The WHISTLER.
Femi Fabunmi urged the government to initiate a football talent hunt programme for Chukwu.
He said: “Chukwu was a legend for Nigeria and Rangers, he deserves to be properly immortalised to preserve his blessed memory.
“The government can initiate a football talent hunt programme in his honour or build a statue in front of any stadium in Nigeria, they can also name a stadium after him.
“The Federal Government and the Enugu State government should work together to ensure that the Chairman gets the honour that is due to him even after death”.
Football Agent, Eddie Ogbemudia suggested that the government should organise a football tournament in Chukwu’s honour.
He said: “Christian Chukwu was a legend on a class of his own, after dorning the national team jersey for Nigeria, and being a coach to the biggest stage of football he deserves all we can think of to make his name stamped on a sports monument in Nigeria.
“Considering his passion for youth development I’ll suggest to the football authority to organise a national annual under age tournament in his honour.” Ogbemudia concluded.
Chukwu earned his first call-up for Nigeria in 1974, making his debut in the 2-0 win over Cote d’Ivoire in an international friendly match.
A year later, he was named the captain of the team, and led the team to bronze medals in 1976 and Ghana in 1978 Nations Cup competitions.
He led Nigeria to the 1980 Nations Cup alongside the likes of Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Muda Lawal, Henry Nwosu, and Best Ogedengbe when they defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final.
How Government Can Immortalise Christian Chukwu – Ex-Internationals is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
