Former Governor of Anambra State and two-time Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has expressed grief over the demise of Nigerian football legend, Christian Chukwu who died on Saturday at the age of 74.
In a statement, on Sunday, Ngige described Chukwu as one of the architects of modern football in Nigeria, who contributed immeasurably to the growth and development of the game, both as a player, coach and football administrator.
According to the former Minister, Chukwu brought fame, honour and respect to Nigeria through the game of football, winning laurels in the 70s and 80s for his country as the Captain of the senior national team, then known as the Green Eagles, and club, Enugu Rangers International Football Club (FC).
Ngige recalled that Chukwu, his peer during secondary school days, captained the Nigerian Green Eagles team, including the likes of Emmanuel Okala, Best Ogedengbe, Segun Odegbami, Aloysius Atuegbu, Henry Nwosu and Ifeanyi Onyedika, to lift the African Cup of Nation’s Trophy for the first time ever in 1980, after two close but unsuccessful attempts to win the trophy in 1976 and 1978.
He said: “Prior to Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations victory in 1980, Chairman Chukwu led the Enugu Rangers FC team that won African Cup Winners Cup, the second most prestigious continental club football competition, in 1977.
“He was a talented, skillful, brilliant, elegant and dogged defender in the field. He had a commanding influence on his team mates and exhibited high level of patriotism and commitment to the service of the nation and Enugu Rangers, not minding that football attracted very little monetary reward in that era.
“After his playing career, he served as the Assistant Coach of the Golden Eaglets team that won the maiden FIFA U-16 World Cup in Communist China in 1985. He was also the assistant coach of the 1994 Golden Generation class of the Super Eagles that won the African Cup of Nations for the second time in 1994 and qualified Nigeria for its first FIFA Senior World Cup Finals the same year.”
Ngige noted that besides Chukwu’s exploits as a player and coach, he inspired many generations of Nigerian professional footballers, who saw him as a role model in the game of football.
The former Minister described the death of the football legend as a huge loss to Nigerian and African football, as well as the entire sporting community in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
He condoled with all those the football icon left behind, particularly his immediate family and the entire Chukwu family in Obe, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, as well as the Government and people of Enugu State.
He also extended his condolences to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) and prayed God to grant the departed eternal rest in paradise.
Christian Chukwu brought fame, honour, respect to Nigeria – Ngige
