By Izunna Okafor, Awka
A former Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy in Anambra State, Ogbuefi Tony J.K. Nnachetta, has paid a glowing tribute to the late Nigerian football legend, Chairman Christian Chukwu, MFR, describing him as a rare blend of warrior, peacemaker, and patriotic servant of the nation.
Speaking at the Night of Tributes held in Lagos in honour of the late football icon on July 28, 2025, Nnachetta, who also once served as Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Anambra State, recounted, in vivid and moving detail, his personal experiences with Chukwu over several decades, both as a football fan and as a fellow administrator within Nigeria’s football space.
In the tribute titled “A Tribute to Chairman Christian Chukwu, MFR”, he took the audience on a historical journey back to 1971 when Chukwu first rose to national prominence as a schoolboy footballer playing for the East Central State Academicals (ECSA). Nnachetta recalled how his alma mater, Christ the King College, Onitsha (CKC), had three players on that legendary squad, including his classmate Innocent Nwokeji and the highly revered Dominic Ezeani, who would go on to captain the famous Rangers International Football Club and the Green Eagles.
According to him, it was Ezeani who first spoke of Christian Chukwu in glowing terms, calling him “the greatest defender in Nigeria,” despite being himself one of the most formidable defenders in the country at the time. This endorsement, coming from a football figure as respected as Ezeani, sent shockwaves through CKC students who had never heard of Chukwu or his school, National Grammar School, Nike.
“The revelation was a thunderbolt,” Nnachetta recalled, noting that Dom Ezeani was himself a towering figure in schoolboy football, and that for him to endorse another defender so strongly spoke volumes about Chukwu’s prowess.
The tribute narrated how Chukwu and Ezeani, wearing jerseys 5 and 6 respectively, formed an impenetrable defensive wall for the ECSA team as they faced tough opponents from Lagos and Bendel states. Chukwu’s brilliance, leadership, and strength on the field, Nnachetta said, captivated millions and foreshadowed the greatness he would go on to achieve with Rangers International, the Green Eagles, and the Nigerian national teams, both as a player and coach.
The former Commissioner, who later worked closely with Chukwu during his time as Chairman of ACB Football Club between 1988 and 1990 and as Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) from 1991, attested to Chukwu’s enduring integrity, humility, and impact.
“I happen to be one of the few who worked beside him or with him in several roles in the Nigerian Pro League and the National Teams. I attest that he is a great gentleman. I attest that Christian Chukwu is a warrior, that Christian Chukwu is a man to go to battle with. I also attest that this warrior is also a peacemaker,” he declared.
He recalled how Chukwu stepped in to mediate and calm tensions within the national team in critical moments — notably in 1994, after Nigeria qualified for the FIFA World Cup Finals in Algiers and again during a turbulent period at the Foxboro camp in the U.S. ahead of the World Cup.
“Christian Chukwu effectively mediated when the team was unhappy with football Administration. He led the peacemaking efforts and helped restore unity,” Nnachetta recalled.
The tribute also highlighted Chukwu’s unmatched consistency in representing Nigeria with dignity and dedication for over four decades — a feat rarely replicated in the country’s football history.
“No other Nigerian surpasses Christian Chukwu’s standing to the National Anthem across several competitions, locally and internationally, for more than forty years, as player and coach. A great man has passed away. A servant of Nigeria. He carried our torch with respect, hard work, and courteousness,” Nnachetta said.
On behalf of his generation of football fans and administrators, he extended his heartfelt condolences to Chukwu’s family, describing the late defender as “a gentle giant and a courteous person in spite of all his accomplishments.”
He also praised Chukwu’s wife and family for their sacrificial support to Nigeria through their support of the legend, assuring them that their pain is shared by all who love Nigerian football.
“Farewell Chairman Christian Chukwu,” Nnachetta concluded. “Dom Ezeani was right. He saw very early this capacity and mission you held as the greatest central defender Nigeria ever had. May your kind increase.”
This deeply personal and emotional tribute from Nnacheta added to the chorus of voices across Nigeria and beyond who have continued to honour the life, legacy, and patriotism of the man fondly called Chairman, a true legend who played from the heart and served Nigeria with distinction till his last breath.
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