"Chairman" Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu

he death and the subsequent announcement of "Chairman" Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu' s passing precisely one week ago, came as a rude shock to yours sincerely. One was engaged in an official business, and as is customary, during break, one reviewed one's whatsapp messages. It was then one saw the message sent to me by my elder brother : where the sad news of "Chairman" Christian Chukwu's passing was broken to me. It came indeed as a rude shock ! One, subsequently, started reminiscing on how your's sincerely sees his legacy:

" Chairman " Christian Chukwu, as he was fondly called - the nickname "Chairman" was given to him by the legendary commentator, Ernest Okonkwo - joined Rangers International Football club of Enugu, at the end of the Nigeria civil war. And went on to become a very key member of the team; and part of the team that took the Nigerian soccer scene by storm, with an uncanny, an unprecedented and consecutive treble of victories in the Nigerian " Challenge cup " competition: the equivalent of the present day FA cup competition, in 1974, 1975 and 1976 !!!!! Of, course, needless saying he was a member of the Rangers team that also won a number of Nigerian league titles in the same period of time!!!!!

One memorable event that stands him out as a skipper and a leader, in your's sincerely's considered opinion, is the event that took place during a 1976 quarter-final clash, in the then African cup of Champions' competition, the equivalent of the modern European Champions league competition:

Rangers International in the first leg,in Enugu, played out a disappointing goalless draw against the then Zambian army team : The Green Buffaloes. Rangers lost a good opportunity to take advantage of home support to eek out a victory, that would have made life much easier for them in the return leg in Lusakka, Zambia, in a forthnight from thence.

In the return leg in Lusakka, Zambia, Rangers faced a quasi uphill battle, in trying to turn things around to their advantage - among other things having not only to confront their opponents on the soccer pitch, but, also, a vociferous home crowd! It was certainly not an advantageous situation for Rangers.

It was against this backdrop that conceding a first goal to the hosts in the early stages of the match, in the first half, was a huge disadvantage! And a bigger disadvantage, was conceding a penalty to the hosts in the later stages of the first half, very close to the half time call ! Rangers players, partly, apparently, fueled by this realisation of the enormuos task facing them, put up a vehement protest to the Referee's decision to make the penalty call in favour of the hosts. They threatened to walk out of the field of play and, consequently, abandon the match ! With benefit of hindsight, that would have meant automatic disqualification for Rangers in the competition!

At this juncture, when all hopes appeared lost, Skipper Christian Chukwu, rose up to his billing as skipper and leader of the team : He took the initiative, asked Goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala to go to the goal post for the hosts to take the penalty! This was done, and the hosts scored from the penalty spot and took a two-goal advantage at the end of the first half!

In the second half, Rangers under leadership of " Chairman" Christian Chukwu, rallied back to equalise; the match ended on a score of 2-2 ! Rangers qualified for the next round on the " away goals rule " that makes every goal scored by a visiting team to count for two. Rangers qualified on a goals aggregate of 4-2!

The point made is: thanks to " Chairman" Christian Chukwu's leadership qualities, a 'disaster' was averted for Rangers International football club - a possible disqualification from the then African Champions' cup competition!!!!!

He was also an iconic skipper and leader of the Nigerian national team, then called : The Green Eagles; but now known as the Super Eagles of Nigeria!

Before the 1980 edition of the African nations' cup competition, at the time the Super Eagles were coached by the Late Father Tiko of blessed memory. His then faltering performance as Super Eagles player made Father Tiko not to want him again in the Super Eagles.

Father Tiko was eventually removed as Super Eagles' coach. A Brazilian : Coach Otto Gloria, was appointed and led the Super Eagles to the 1980 edition of the Nations' cup competition. Skipper Christian Chukwu shrugged off his slight loss of form prior to the 1980 Nations' cup competition, to put up a wonderful display at the competition! That with benefit of hindsight, was handsomely rewarded as we shall see later on in this piece.

In the match against the Ivorian national team, the "Elephants", "Chairman" Chukwu showed his leadership qualities once again: The Ivorians on commencement of the match, took the initiative and dominated proceedings against the Super Eagles playing on home soil ! The home crowd at a point in time, became irritated and were about turning against the home team : The Super Eagles of Nigeria - vintage Lagos crowd!

At this juncture, Skipper Christian Chukwu, rose up to the occasion and showed leadership by example, by taking the ball from his defensive line and moving forward to the opponents' half of the field; in the process he motivated his team mates to wake-up from their 'slumber' and play for Nigeria!

Eventually, the Super Eagles under "Chairman" Christian Chukwu's leadership, won the 1980 Nations' cup competition on home soil; thus, made history, by winning the first ever title for the Super Eagles of Nigeria !

"Chairman" Christian Chukwu was voted the best player of the tournament! And, thus, became the first Nigerian player ever to win the accolade!

" Chairman " Christian Chukwu, also, through the tactical/technical guidance of late Coach Father Tiko, revolutionised the playing style of centre-half backs in Nigeria. Coach Tiko, apparently, borrowed a leaf from the playing style of the then German centre-half back: the late Franz Beckenbaeur of blessed memory.

He made "Chairman" Christian Chukwu, an overlapping or football-playing centre-half back; as opposed to the traditional norm, where centre-half backs stayed behind to defend!

One can go on and on with examples of " Chairman " Christian Chukwu's quintessential leadership qualities on and off the field of play. Qualities that stood him out as an iconic , influential and concomittantly a highly celebrated skipper in Nigerian soccer! But the scope of this piece doesn't give one that opportunity.

In conclusion :

As the title of this piece suggests, given his charisma, his actvities as an active soccer player- on and off the field of play; his activities as a former player - as coach and as a soccer administrator; and his overal legacy, he in your's sincerely's considerd opinion, will go down in the history books, as the most iconic, most influential and the most celebrated Nigerian soccer skipper of the last fifty years !

He was in your's sincerely's considered opinion : A skipper's skipper !

He changed the face of Nigerian soccer in a way nobody has ever done; and, may be, will ever do!

May the soul of "Chairman" Christian Chukwuemeka Chukwu, find rest in the Lord's bossom !!!!!! Amen!!

My sincerest condolences to his beloved family.