BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | Return of the 'Chairman'



By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport Online

When Clemens Westerhof's contract with Nigeria ended at the 1994 World Cup finals in the United States, Christian Chukwu was expected to mount the vacant managerial saddle.

As Westerhof's assistant, Chukwu was to understudy modern coaching methods, which would equip him with the tools to manage the Super Eagles.

But "Chairman," as he is fondly known, was never given the opportunity to make use of what he had learnt.

Nothing is surprising in Nigeria

Christian Chukwu

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) showed him the door as soon as Westerhof left.

"One should never be surprised with whatever happens in Nigerian football," said Chukwu as he reminisced on his experience with the national team.

Chukwu, talking with this reporter at his home in the Eastern Nigerian city of Enugu, said his experience with FA officials was rather bizarre.

"The FA said that they wanted continuity after Westerhof goes, which was why I was given the job.

"But some FA members felt that all the coaches that worked under Westerhof should leave, which defeated their purpose of getting me in the first place," he said last year.

Career switch

Chukwu returned to coaching in the domestic league with Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Rangers International and subsequently moved abroad to coach Lebanese club Safa FC in 1997.

Christian Chukwu is acknowleged as one the best defenders African football has produced
Chukwu managed the Kenyan team

But following Nigeria's second round exit at the 1998 World Cup, Chukwu received a fax from the NFA, offering him the chance he was denied in 1994.

Leaving his position in Lebanon to return to Nigeria, he was rudely awakened to the fact that a totally different job was on offer.

"I was told that I would be an assistant coach, which went contrary to what I was told and I was not ready to accept that."

With Chukwu's Lebanese employers unhappy with his decision to leave them in the lurch, unemployement beckoned.

But the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) gave him the job of managing the Harambee Stars, their national team.

However, a string of poor results ended his stint in the East African country.

Respect

Chukwu believes Nigerian coaches have the competence to manage the Super Eagles but are hampered by the NFA's attitude towards them.

"Foreigners get good salaries and are given the tools with which to do a good job.

"But when a Nigerian coach asks for the same things, he gets all sorts of excuses. I do not think that is fair.

"If we get the same treatment that they get we would be able to achieve the same results."

But it remains to be seen if he will go the two-year contractual distance.

If the former Nigerian captain is unable to work with the foreign manager that the NFA will subsequently appoint, it might all end in tears.


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