By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka.
One of Nigeria’s greatest footballers and former Coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu has died at 74 years old.
Chukwu, also a former captain of Rangers International of Enugu and later Green Eagles, died on Saturday, April 12, 2025 in Enugu state.
The news about his death came as a rude shock to many as a former Secretary and player of Rangers International Football Club, Chief Joe Martins Uzodike, who announced Chukwu’s death bemoaned the fate of some players of the country’s football team.
Uzodike said that Chukwu who was the Captain of the then Green Eagles Team which won the African Cup of Nations in 1980 died at the Eastern Niger Medical Centre where his remains had been deposited at the morgue.
Uzodike lamented that Nigeria has lost four football superstars in one single year, describing their deaths as a result of lack of attention at old age.
Uzodike noted that the old players played with patriotism.
According to him, “Christian Chukwu was picked from Nike Grammer School Enugu to play for Rangers and at some point he coached Rangers Football Club and later became the Captain of the Green Eagles.
“He was the Captain that won the first Nations Cup for Nigeria and also won the African Nations Cup as a Coach.
“He spoke to some of us three days ago and we never knew that it was the last time we shall hear from him and of course, he has been sick just like most of them who played in those years and this has to do with fatigue as footballers.”
Uzodike also stated, “We have lost four of them in one year such as Christian Isiadinso, recently Kenneth Abana left, Mecha also left and they are all going in quick succession and Emele left last time and you can see that life is just a passage.”
He expressed the appreciation of the players for the assistance provided to them by successive administrations in Anambra state who commenced the payment of stipends to the players irrespective of their states of origin.
“Peter Obi started it and in fact, he initiated it by paying them N13,000.00 monthly and Willie Obiano increased it to N15,000.00 then Gov Charles Soludo came and increased it to N100,000.00 monthly.
“They all have tried in their own capacity despite the fact that Christian Chukwu is not from Anambra state. He is from Obe in Enugu state and Mecha is from Abia state and when he died, Peter Obi had to buy land for him where he was buried and what is left now is to build a house for him,” he said.
Uzodike observed that most of the players of old played for the love of the country and not for money adding that it was why they never had houses of their own.
“Today people play football and make millions of naira but their set played for patriotism and not money. An example is the late Christian Nwokocha who died without a house and we had to build a house for him at Nawfia in Njikoka local government area of Anambra state.
“This is the plight of old people and our people don’t remember them and their roles in the country and this is indeed terrible.” he added.
Chukwu was a behemoth in defence in his heyday and was known for his free kicks, such that sent legendary ace commentator, the late Ernest Okonkwo, screaming in ecstasy.
The veteran footballer fondly called ‘Chairman’ by football lovers is survived by his wife, Lilian and four children and numerous relatives.
He was the first Nigerian captain to win the African Nations Cup when the Eagles defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final of the 1980 tournament.
Also, he was in the Nigeria squad that finished runners’ up in 1976 and 1978.
