Former Nigeria Coach and captain of the 1980 Green Eagles national football team, Coach Christina Chukwu has thanked Nigerians and philanthropist Femi Otedola for their care and support throughout his medical travails.
The 68-year-old football maestro who was the assistant coach of the National Team that was widely known as the Golden Generation – the 1994 Class of Super Eagles, which also qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals, won the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America, praised the people’s support that makes him regain his fast recuperating health condition.
Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for the authority he exuded as he marshaled the defense and launched terror on the opposition defence for club and country National team, Christian Chukwu thanked the Enugu state Government, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Philanthropist, Femi Otedola and other Nigerians who came to his aid.
Chukwu who served as assistant coach of the African team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985, described his sick period as excruciating, which makes him feel helpless before it became a public assistance.
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Christian Chukwu
Former Super Eagles Manager
Chairman Chukwu says his ailment could not be unconnected with his contribution to football development from his youthful age.
Coach Chukwu notes that his recent health challenge may be as a result of the injury he sustained while in active service, according to him, it almost made him a cripple.
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Christian Chukwu
Former Super Eagles Manage
Speaking on the 1994 Iwunyanwu Nationale United team which suffered plane crash in Algeria, an incident that claimed two of the player’s lives, the former Green Eagles captain said he is not sure, if the injury most of them sustained then may be connected to his recent waist pain ailment.
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Christian Chukwu
Former Super Eagles Manager
While speaking on the background that the national team need to be rejigged with home base players as they displayed in the Africans Cup of Nation 1994 qualifier, that qualified Nigeria for the first world cup tournament in the same year, Chairman Chukwu expressed disappointment, request that the Nigeria Coach and the NFF should repose confidence in the home base coaches and players to enable them get the best of the country natural talents.
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Christian Chukwu
Former Super Eagles Manager
He advised the NFF to develop the mantra of promoting local content, assured that indigenous players and coaches can qualify Nigeria for world cup, even win laurels in the international mundial, if given the opportunity to express themselves.
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Christian Chukwu
Former Super Eagles Manager
Christian Chukwu captained the Green Eagles as they won Nigeria’s first –ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, received the brand new Unity Cup from then President Shehu Shagari. He also captained the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977
He was the assistant coach of the team widely known as the Golden Generation – the 1994 Class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals, won the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America.
Between 2002 and 2005, Chukwu was head coach of the Super Eagles, leading the team to win bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
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