The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has mourned the death of Nigeria’s national team’s most iconic captain, Christian ‘Chairman’ Chukwu.
Mallam Dikko’s reaction on behalf of the Commission and sporting fraternity came minutes after receiving the news of Chukwu’s demise by his former team mate and Nigerian International, Dr. Segun Odegbami, describing his passage as a big shock.
Dikko, in a statement by NSC’s Director, Information and Public Relations, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, said “This news came to me as a big shock. Chairman is no more. On behalf of the Commission and the entire sporting fraternity and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria, I extend my condolences to his family and indeed the whole of Nigeria.
“Frankly, a big iroko tree has fallen. We are the Chairmen leading the sector but Christian Chukwu is the original Chairman on the pitch.
“He was so commanding and charismatic, decisive and assuring on the pitch that the Late Ernest Okonkwo called him ‘Chairman’, and till today that name ‘Chairman’ is even more popular than his original name.
“Chairman Chukwu is synonymous with Nigerian football. He lifted our first major trophy in that 1980 AFCON. Growing up, that day stands out. Many of us draw our passion for Nigerian football from that tournament.
“Chairman was the main catalyst of that feat, motivating and leading the team from the foundation to success.
“Whether as a player, coach or administrator, Chairman stamped his feet in the annals of Nigerian football and I had a very good working relationship with him for decades and we have been in constant touch. I just had a meeting with Dr. Segun Odegbami earlier this week.”
Dikko added that this was happening at a time when Chukwu’s experience was needed “and drive of the likes of Chairman to push through our vision at the Commission. This is a very gloomy day in Nigerian football.
“One thing that stands out is Chairman’s passion for Nigerian football and his humility and peaceful nature all his life. Even in his latter days, he was a regular commentator on the state of Nigerian football. He is always one of the legends I look forward to reading his views on developments in the game.”
He pledged that the Commission will do everything within its means to immortalise him and make sure that his dream for Nigerian football is sustained.
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