More Nigerian soccer fans have continued to react to the death of the former Green Eagles Captain Christian Chukwu popularly known as Chairman by his admires.
The latest is from the Chairman Crystal All Stars Football Club of Port Harcourt, Amb. Joe Cole who held the view that Nigerian has really lost inestimable assets in Christian Chukwu.
He described Chukwu who was also a former coach if the Super Eagles as a reliable player and coach.
“Indeed, late Christian Chukwu was not only a reliable player and coach who has served Enugu Rangers very meritoriously in the 70s and 80s but an epitome of humility and dedication to a chosen career”.
“Suffice it to say that late Chairman Chukwu has provided mentoring role to the younger ones in the game of football, but regrettably today he has passed on,” he stated.
He suggested the immortalization of the late coach.
“Apart from Christian Chukwu haven played for Rangers of Enugu and also a coach to Nigeria Senior National Team the Super Eagles. There is no doubt that he falls in the group of legends that had proved his mettle both locally and internationally.
“Infact, I will suggest that the name late Christian Chukwu should be immortalized either by naming one football cup or a stadium in Nigeria after his name, ” he added.
Cole opined that it is hightime some multinational companies in Nigeria come forward to bankroll the salaries of national coaches who are being owed every season while praying that in turn, government will give them tax rebate as in appreciation.
On his part, another ex-soccer star, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, a lecturer at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Rumoula, described the demise of Chukwu as a rude shock.
According to him, “The news of the demise of Chukwu came to me as a shock even though I have heard that he was sometime down with illness.
“No doubt, late Chukwu commands respect at the defense line. He was very gentle unassuming and calm, and above all succeeded in leading Nigeria to win the 1980 Nations Cup,” he stated.
Paying tributes to the late coach, he said Chukwu succeeded in bringing up younger players to limelight apart from leading the Green Eagles team to win the IG80 Africa Nation Cup.
He said Nigeria will greatly miss him especially as the Super Eagles struggles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Commenting further on the possibility of Nigeria qualifying for the World Cup, Wokoma said it is no longer in the hands of the players.
“Truly the possibility of Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is no longer in the hands of players but on the outcome of other team’s results though on paper it is almost over but inside the pitch is possible if only the Super Eagles Players will win all her remaining matches,” he said.
