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CHRISTIAN CHUKWU IS BATTLING WITH PROSTATE CANCER

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Insight to the ailment being suffered by former Nigeria’s national football team’s skipper and coach, Christian Chukwu, has been given by TheCable publication. Hitherto, the ailment had been undisclosed. But the online publication reports Chukwu is battling prostate cancer.

The publication reports that Norbert Okonkwo, media officer of Enugu Rangers disclosed that the former Nigerian skipper has had a successful leg surgery some days ago.

“Christian Chukwu has prostate cancer which affected his leg,” Okonkwo told TheCable.

Ailing Christian Chukwu being assisted to walk

Sports Village Square recalls that at last year’s Nigeria Football Federation Awards, Chukwu came with a walking stick and struggled on stage to move around.

“He had an operation last week and discharged on Thursday but went to stay in a hotel on doctor’s advise to avoid being disturbed by visitors, TheCable quoted Rangers’ spokesman as saying.

“The doctor made this suggestion so that he can recuperate on time.

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Chukwu needs assistance to move around

“I can confirm to you that Rangers got to know about his situation three weeks ago because the family said they don’t want it in public space”.

Okonkwo also said that the Enugu State Government made N1.5 million available for Chukwu’s surgery.

He disclosed that the club management alerted the governor of Enugu state about the situation, and the governor gave cash for his treatment.

“Rangers management made a quick appointment to see the Enugu state governor which was granted and His Excellency gave a million and half for his treatment.

“Rangers management also have been supportive ever since then. Ranger never abandoned him.”

It was also gathered that Chukwu is still in the payroll of Rangers as the former player and technical adviser has a seven hundred naira (N700, 000) monthly take home from the club.

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Early reports on the health challenges of the former Nigeria defence stalwart indicated that there is need to raise the sum of $50,000 for his round trip to the United States of America, surgery, medication and general after-surgery care.

A patron of Chukwu’s former club, Enugu Rangers FC, Benson Ezeomeogo Ejindu made this known via a Facebook post seeking to raise funds for the legend on Sunday.

Chukwu captained the national team of Nigeria as which won their first–ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980, receiving the brand new Unity Cup from then President Shehu Shagari.

He also captained the Enugu Rangers FC team that won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977.

Nicknamed ‘Chairman’ for the authority he exuded as he marshalled the defence and launched onslaughts on the opposition defence for club and country, Chukwu also served as assistant coach of the first team to win a FIFA World Cup trophy for Nigeria – the Golden Eaglets that triumphed at the FIFA U16 World Cup in China in 1985.

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He was also assistant coach of the team widely known as the Golden Generation – the 1994 Class of Super Eagles that qualified Nigeria for her first FIFA World Cup finals.

He won the Africa Cup of Nations title and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in America as assistant coach. Between 2002 and 2005, Chukwu was head coach of the Super Eagles, leading the team to win bronze medal at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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