The late Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu’s AFCON I980 winning teammate, Ifeanyi Onyedika (MON), has expressed shock over the demise of the defunct Green Eagles skipper, noting that the news thoroughly dazed him.

Mr Chukwu died on Saturday in Enugu after a protracted illness, leaving behind a legacy of rich contributions to Nigerian football.

Mr Onyedika, who also played illustriously with the late Chukwu at Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, said in Abakaliki that he had yet to believe the news.

He said, “Chairman, as Chukwu was fondly called, was a total head on and off the pitch and would be irreplaceable. I have known him for years even before our active years and he was a man you will wish to stay with forever.’’

The Coach of Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Abakaliki FC said he would speak more on the death after conversing with associates and digested the news.

“You just informed me of the news as my team just finished a home game. Chukwu is simply irreplaceable as his contributions to the growth of Nigerian and African football, cannot be quantified, he said.

In a related development, ex-Golden Eaglet player, Wilson Mmayie, said that the late Chukwu’s legacies in football went beyond Nigeria.

He said, “I was plying my trade in Kenya when he was the coach of the country’s national team—the Harambee Stars. His name rang bell across Kenya as he brought his managerial astuteness to bear on the fortunes of the team.’’

(NAN)