By CHIMEZIE ANASO

Former teammates of football icon Christian Chukwu at Rangers International of Enugu and Green Eagles players, have expressed sadness over the death of their friend and leader.

The veterans called for immortalisation of Chukwu, by the Federal and Enugu State governments.

Emmanuel Okala, teammate of Chukwu both Rangers Intl FC and Green Eagles told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Sunday that the news of his friend’s death had left him devastated.

Okala, the veteran goalkeeper, said Chukwu was a great man as a footballer, leader and coach noting that his sterling qualities were responsible for the torrent of reactions that have trailed his death.

“It is painful; I am speechless but we cannot challenge God, I only pray that his soul rests in peace.

“He is a great man, he lived a good life with full dedication to football, club and country, that is why the entire country is in shock as a result of his death.

“He was a great leader, true Chairman that he is, Christian was my personal friend, he was my best man during my wedding in 1980, we came a long way.

“I want Nigeria to immortalise Christian Chukwu, the Enugu State government should also do the same because he was an icon of football Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, Arthur Ebunam, another ex Rangers said members of Rangers Intl FC family were in mourning.

Ebunam said the death came at a time when they where preparing for the burial of Christian Isiadinso, a former captain of the club on April 23.

According to him, Chairman is chairman all around, in Rangers and Green Eagles, late Ernest Okonkwo gave him that name because he commanded respect everywhere.

“He played the game, he coached the game and earned laurels at the club and national level.

“Christian has already immortalised himself by the impact he made but the government has to honour him specially,” he said.

Harrison Okagbue, a childhood friend of Chukwu, said he was still in shock since he received the news of his death.

Okagbue, 77, said even though Chukwu was younger than most of them, he was a true leader who not only controlled his space but served as an ambassador for his peers.

According to him, we have been hit badly by his death, his name alone was a key to us, there are places we would go to and when they hear Christian Chukwu was around, they would open, he was our leader.

“We were childhood friends, we went to primary school at the Christ Church, Uwani, I finished in 1962 and he in 1964, I proceeded to Merchants of Light Oba while he went to Nike Grammar School and we later met in Rangers.

“We played together, we became coaches, while I was coaching Ugandan national team, he was in Kenya coaching the national team, we have been friends.

“Christian was a clown, he had a high sense of humour. There was a day he came to the pitch with a wrapper because we were struggling for tugs and jerseys, he is tolerant, accommodating and charismatic,” he said.

Sylvanus Okpala, another member of the 1980 Gold winning Green Eagles, said Chukwu would go down as one of the heroes of Nigerian football.

Okpala, popularly called ‘Quicksilver’ said Chukwu was a gentleman, great captain both for Rangers and Green Eagles who lifted the first nations cup for Nigeria in 1980 as a player.

“He lifted the first narhin cup in 1980 and as a captain with Clemence Westerhof as a coach in 1994, he also qualified Nigeria for the first World Cup on that bench .

“As a player, he was very disciplined, he rarely gets yellow card as a defender, he was a calm and calculative player, he won laurels.

“I was with him as a school boy in Rangers Intl; Christian was a good free kick taker, he was not stylish, his kicked had force.

“It is a personal loss to me because I was close to him, we talk to each other every other week, we were together about a month ago,” he said. (NAN)