The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed profound sorrow over the passing of Nigerian football legend, Christian Chukwu, hailing him as a national hero and an irreplaceable figure in African football.
In a statement released on Saturday, Governor Mbah said, “I received with a deep sense of loss the passing away of Chairman Christian Chukwu. It is a personal loss to us as Ndi Enugu, his home state, and indeed to Nigeria as a nation and Africa as a continent.”
He praised the late sportsman’s legacy both on and off the field. “Christian Chukwu was a national icon, a football titan, field marshal, and phenomenon. His exploits as a footballer united the country across ethnic divides and creed.”
Reflecting on Chukwu’s illustrious career, Mbah noted, “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.”
While mourning his death, the governor assured that Chukwu’s memory would remain evergreen.
“Our dear legend has gone the way of all mortals, but the fond memories and the pride he gave Ndi Igbo and Nigeria as a whole will be cherished forever.”
“My heart goes out to his family, Ndi Enugu, the Nigerian sports community and the entire nation over this irreplaceable loss. May the good Lord grant his soul eternal repose,” Mbah concluded.
