The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to provide support for former Nigeria captain and coach Christian Chukwu to overcome his present health challenges and get back on his feet soonest.
The NFF’s gesture is coming even as some public-spirited individuals have risen in support of the former Green Eagles captain.
President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who is in the United Kingdom, said yesterday that he had mandated the Chairman of Enugu State Football Association and Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Hon. Chidi Ofo Okenwa, to pay a visit to the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning team captain and get the details of his challenges and what he needs to be done to return him to good health.
“I am not in Nigeria at present but I have asked the NFF Acting President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, to take full charge and ensure that this matter is treated promptly. It was this kind of development that I spoke about the welfare foundation for our legends at the 2nd AITEO-NFF Awards in Lagos on 1st April 2019. The NFF will always be there to lend support to our legends in their hour of need,” Pinnick said.
The NFF president, who is also the 1st Vice President of CAF and President of AFCON, is on his way to Cairo, Egypt for final inspection of facilities for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, as well as meetings of the AFCON organizing committee and CAF Exco ahead of Friday’s draw ceremony for the championship.
Early reports on the health challenges of the former Nigeria defence stalwart indicated that there is need to raise the sum of $50,000 for his round trip to the United States of America, surgery, medication and general after-surgery care.
A patron of Chukwu’s former club, Enugu Rangers FC, Mr. Benson Ezeomeogo Ejindu, made this known in a Facebook post seeking to raise funds for the legend. Christian Chukwu captained the senior national team of Nigeria as they won their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, receiving 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.
Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for the authority he exuded as he marshalled the defence and launched onslaughts on the opposition defence for club and country, Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first 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.
