•Late Christian Chukwu
Following the passing of former Super Eagles captain and coach Christian Chukwu on Saturday, the Enugu State government has opened condolence registers in his honor at locations in Enugu, Lagos, and Abuja.
In a statement issued today by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, the registers were opened as a tribute to the late coach, offering Nigerians an opportunity to express their condolences and honour his legacy.
The registers will be accessible from 8 am to 4 pm on weekdays at the following locations: Enugu State Football Association office at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu; Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, State Secretariat, Enugu; Rangers International Office on Abakaliki Road, GRA, Enugu; Enugu State Liaison Office in Lagos at 45 Lasode Crescent, Victoria Island; and Enugu State Building in Abuja at 81 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Opposite Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Business District, reports The Nation.
“So, we encourage Ndi Enugu and Nigerians to avail themselves of these avenues to pay respect to whom it is due,” the statement read in part.
There has been an outpour of tributes since the news of Chukwu’s demise at the weekend.
On his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, @PNMbah and other social media platforms, Governor of Enugu, Peter Mbah, described the death as a personal loss to the state and indeed to Nigeria as a nation and Africa as a continent.
He noted the deceased was “a national icon, a football titan, Field Marshal, and phenomenon, whose exploits as a footballer united the country across ethnic divides and creed.”
“He was patriotism personified, serving the nation and Africa unreservedly both as a player and coach of the highly successful Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and Super Eagles of Nigeria, which he captained to victory as Green Eagles at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON. He also coached the Harambee Stars, Kenya’s senior male national team, among others.
“Chairman, as he was fondly called, gave his all not only to the nation but to the rest of Africa. He wrote his name in gold in the annals of the history of Nigerian and African football,” he stated.
