Former WAFU boss, Ogufere mourns Chukwu

Foremost football administrator, Chief Jonathan Boytie Ogufere, has  expressed  his heartfelt  condolences  over the  recent death of former national team captain and coach, Christian ‘ Chairman’  Chukwu, adding  the  erstwhile  Enugu Rangers’ defence stalwart  will ‘be dearly missed’.

In a personally signed  letter of  condolence, the former President of West African Football Union(WAFU) described Chukwu who  died  on Saturday , April 12, in Enugu  after  a brief illness at 74, as   a ‘hero of our time  and a friend’.  

 The nonagenarian recalled with nostalgia  how he nearly  recruited the young  Chukwu for his P & T Vasco da Gama Football Club of Enugu, adding  he was  impressed with  how the ‘Field Marshal Christian Chukwuemeka ‘Chairman ‘ Chukwu (MFR), conducted himself  throughout  his career as he led both  the national team, the then Green Eagles  and his beloved Enugu Rangers to many conquests.

“I join numerous others to mourn the transition of the legendary Christian Chukwu, a hero of our time and friend,” the Ugbugba of Okpe Kingdom wrote.   “As one of the young academicals discovered after the end of the Civil War in 1970, I tried to enlist into my club, the P & T Vasco da Gama Football Club of Enugu but he  was fair and frank in informing me that he had already joined Enugu Ranges Football Club, and I respected that attitude. From the rivalries between the two clubs, his exploits as a central defender were very visible.”

He continued:  “Christian Chukwu emerged at the national level as a trust worthy and formidable captain of the national team who led by example. He was one of the heroes during the Golden age of Nigerian football when I was one of the Board Members of the Nigeria Football Association under the chairmanship of Chief Sunny  Dankaro as Nigeria won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 for the first time where Christian Chukwu as captain of the Green Eagles was declared the best player of the tournament. He led the national team in several battles which endeared him to millions of football lovers.

“After his playing days, he showed his talents through coaching in Nigeria and abroad.

“I express my sincere condolence to the family he left behind, the football family and the country in general. He will be dearly missed.

“May the good Lord grant his noble soul eternal rest,” he noted.