Nigeria’s national team former captain and head coach, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu, has landed in London for extensive medical checks and treatment of a recent ailment that almost claimed his life, megasportsarena.com reports.
A press release by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday disclosed that Chukwu made the trip in the company of his wife, Lilian Nkeiruka, who will remain at his side during the process of his days of treatment that was made possible by some Nigerian philanthropists.
The NFF statement revealed further that Chukwu, who captained Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980, traveled with his wife aboard a Virgin Atlantic Airline flight from Lagos.
NFF president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick said ‘CCC’ has an appointment with a renowned cardiologist, who happens to be a Nigerian based in London.
Chukwu and his wife were seen off at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos by a member of the NFF executive committee, Aisha Falode, who is also chairman of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), alongside some protocol officials from The Glasshouse.
The Nigerian soccer legend, who has also coached Kenya’s senior national team and a club in Lebanon, said he is happy with the role played by the NFF in helping him get back to good health.
He also stated appreciation for how the NFF further helped him get financial support from philanthropic individuals, among which the chairman of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola donated $50,000 for the aid.
Chukwu said: “It is waist pain and stomach upset that I keep feeling. The doctors in Nigeria have treated the stomach and it remains the waist.
“I am confident that I will come back to Nigeria having regained sound health
“I am very happy with the efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation through the President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
“He has proved that he is truly father of Nigerian Football. I am also grateful for the support and prayers of other Nigerians.”