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Tag: Chukwu

  • Cardiff city coaching job: Chukwu: We will miss Solskjaer at Molde FK

    Cardiff city coaching job: Chukwu: We will miss Solskjaer at Molde FK

    • Says, “I had my best time under him”

    Nigeria’s Chima Daniel Chukwu, says Molde FK will greatly miss former manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when squad members return to the Norwegian capital in the coming days.

    The former Bussdor FC forward who won Two Tippeligaen title in 2011 and 2013 alongside the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup told SportingLife on Thursday that it was sad to see the former Manchester United ace leave for Cardiff City after enjoying three fruitful years at Molde FK.

    “It is really sad to see Solskjaer leave for Cardiff. However, after taking into account all he has achieved in Norway with Molde FK, I want to wish him all the best.

    “As a player, I had my best time playing under him and I will always be ready to do it again in future if the opportunity comes,” he said.

    Speaking further, Chukwu revealed that the departing manager will be greatly missed in the dressing room not just by the players but also all that had come in contact with him during his spell at the Norwegian outfit.

    “The dressing room will definitely not be the same with his exit. Oleg was a true professional, a very positive person and carries everyone at the club along irespective of your status.

    “We can only wish him the best at Cardiff and build on the structure he had put in place here,” he added.

    Chukwu’s Molde FK it would be recalled won the Norwegian Tippeligaen back to back in 2011 and 2012. Molde FK also won the 2013 Norwegian Football Cup, after defeating their main rivals Rosenborg 4–2 in the final under the guidance of Solskjaer who now replaces Malky Mackay as the Welsh outfit’s new boss, after the Scot was sacked after Cardiff’s 3-0 defeat to Southampton on Boxing Day.

  • 2014 World Cup: Chukwu tips Eagles for 2nd round

    2014 World Cup: Chukwu tips Eagles for 2nd round

    •Says Nigeria will be difficult to beat

    Former Super Eagles Chief Coach and Captain, Christian Chukwu has tipped the Eagles to scale through the group stage hurdle and at least get to the second round of the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil.

    Chukwu who is also a member of Nigeria Football Federation Technical Committee told SportingLife that the Super Eagles team is strong enough to make the second round of the competition no matter the group the Nigerian team found itself in today’s draws.

    “One thing about the present Super Eagles team under the leadership of Coach Stephen Keshi is that they are bunch of devoted, patriotic and glory-seeking players that can wreck any highly rated team on their good day. So no matter where the Eagles are drawn I am confident that they will at least get to the second round of the 2014 World Cup holding in Brazil,” Chukwu disclosed.

    The former Rangers strongman stressed that in as much as he would prefer the Eagles avoid the big football nations like Brazil, Spain, Germany and the rest, he still believes that the Nigerian team could stand to be counted when pitched against these teams in the group stage. He, however, warned that there are no minnows in world football again. He said that the so-called small football nations are the ones that normally pose as threats to other big football nations.

    “I always laugh if I hear people saying they prefer the Eagles meet a small team. What do they mean by a small team? There are no more minnows in world football. All the countries that qualified for the finals of the 2014 World Cup passed through strenuous, rigorous and energy-sapping qualifying series and worth their qualification for the 2014 World Cup. So to me all the 32 teams going to Brazil for the Mundial worth being there and are threats to other opponents,” Chukwu called ‘The Chairman’ during his playing days for being a tough and dependable defender told SportingLife.

    He, however, urged the Nigeria Football Federation not to relent in their efforts of preparing the team well for the task ahead in June 2014.

    “I am urging the NFF to as a matter of importance and urgency use the opportunity of attending the World Cup draws that is holding tomorrow (today) to discuss with the representatives of other countries coming for the draws to arrange friendly matches in other to toughen the Eagles for the World Cup.

    “The Eagles need at least three to five friendly matches between now and June date of the World Cup to knock the team to shape and be ready for the competition,” he added.

  • Chukwu, Ekpo rule Norway

    Chukwu, Ekpo rule Norway

    Daniel Chima Chukwu and Emmanuel Ekpo won this year’s Norway Cup after their club,Molde beat Rosenborg 4-1 in the final.

    Chima and Ekpo featured for Molde, while John Chibuike was on from start to finish for Rosenborg.

    Chibuike told MTNFootball.com he does not know how to describe the cup final, which Rosenborg ought to have won but for hard luck.

    “I don’t know how to describe the loss. I think it was hard luck. We did our best to win the game, we led the game 2-1 till the 70th minute. I can’t just explain,” Chibuike said.

    By this triumph, Molde will feature in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

  • Chukwu targets more goals

    Molde striker Daniel Chima Chukwu has revealed his desire to add to the seven goals he has scored thus far.

    However, Chima, who scored two goals last weekend for his Norwegian club, said he has not set a personal goals’ target.

    ”I am happy whenever I score especially when the goal helps my team to victory. I will keep doing my best to score as many goals as I can this season for Molde,” Chima informed MTNFootball.com

    “I don’t have an actual number of goals I want to score, I will just keep them coming.”

    The young striker would also wish to win the Norwegian Cup to add to the Norwegian championship winners’ medal he won last season.

     

  • Chukwu scolds Nigeria over Oliha

    Chukwu scolds Nigeria over Oliha

    Former Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu is unhappy that the nation’s government has not honoured its pledge to late midfielder, Thompson Oliha after helping the Super Eagles win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994.

    Oliha, who died on Sunday, was promised a house by the Nigeria government at the time but the pledge was not redeemed.

    Chukwu has now spoken about the situation which he described as “not too good.”

    “To be honest, this is not too good. He has not received the house he was promised for helping Nigeria win the Nations Cup in 1994. Now he has died and I don’t know if it is not too late for him to be given that house,” Chukwu, an assistant coach to Clemens Westerhof in 1994, told supersport.com.

    Chukwu then went on to extol the qualities of the late midfielder who made 31 appearances and scored two goals for Nigeria between 1988 and 1994.

    “Oliha was a perfect example in training and matches as he was always hard working but found the time to exchange banter with players and coaches alike.

    “He only left for Europe after the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations but even when he was based in Nigeria, he was still a first-choice as the Europe-based players found it almost impossible to outwit him in training and matches.

    “It is a sad loss and we will miss him greatly,” Chukwu concluded.

    Oliha began his professional football education in 1985 at Bendel Insurance before proceeding to Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC) in 1988.

    Four years later, he joined Ivorian club, Africa Sports before spending two short seasons in Europe with Maccabi Ironi Ashdod (in Israel) and Antalyaspor (in Turkey).

  • Chukwu worried over injured Eagles

    Chukwu worried over injured Eagles

    Former Nigerian coach, Christian Chukwu has expressed deep concern at the spate of injuries picked up by Super Eagles players ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifying matches in June.

    As at the last count, Chelsea duo of John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses as well as Kalu Uche, Reuben Gabriel and Ahmed Musa, among others have declared themselves unavailable for the international friendly against Mexico on May 31 in Houston, the United States of America and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kenya in Nairobi and Namibia in Windhoek on June 5 and 12 respectively.

    The injured players will equally be unavailable for the side’s campaign at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil coming up from June 15 to 30.

    Chukwu described the development as unfortunate but said it is a challenge on the Super Eagles manager, Stephen Keshi to produce capable replacements for the injured players.

    “It’s unfortunate that the players are picking up injuries at a time we need their services most. However, it’s an opportunity for the coach to give other players the chance in the squad to prove their mettle who knows we may discover to our chagrin that they’re better than the ones they replaced.

    “Once the reason is on account of injury, it’s always better to go into a game with fit players than unfit ones no matter their pedigree. An injured player is a high risk and big gamble to field in a crucial game.

    “I’m worried by the development as it’s always good and reassuring for a coach to go into a game with his best material but that’s not to say that if we put our act right, pick good replacements quickly, we’ll not be able to post good results in the matches.

    “I’m not aware the number of foreign professionals Kenya brought to Nigeria to pick a valuable point but I know they didn’t come with a lorry load of them. Our domestic players have shown at different times that they could be relied upon to deliver the goods. They can still do it again given more opportunities.

    “The domestic leagues are in full swing and the players are competitively active. They could be resorted to fill the vacuum created by the injured foreign-based players. I’m confident they’ll post good results even as I believe some of the injured ones will come off their injuries before the start of the matches,” said the former Harambee Stars of Kenya coach to supersport.com.

    Though Nigeria currently lead their World Cup group on superior goals they are tied on five points with Malawi who will be playing two straight home games.

  • CHUKWU TELLS KESHI Push for assistants

    CHUKWU TELLS KESHI Push for assistants

    FORMER Nigeria captain, Christian Chukwu, has called on Stephen Keshi to press further for the reinstatement of his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala and Valere Houandinou.

    Okpala and Houandinou were relieved of their positions as Super Eagles assistant coaches last month by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    Chukwu, a member of the football federation’s technical committee, believes Keshi can still impress it on his employer to recall his assistants even in the face of financial constraints.

    “It’s unfortunate that the federation had to lay off some of the team’s backroom staff including Keshi’s assistant coaches due to lack of funds. The coaches did well with Keshi when they won the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa this year.

    “Keshi can still make a cogent reason on why he needs the coaches in the team and I believe himself and the federation can iron that out amicably,” advised Chukwu.

    “Personally I like the coaches to be back in the team after their achievement at the AFCON. But it is the federation’s call and I quite understand the dilemma in which they find themselves when you talk in terms of finance.”

    Last week, reports suggested that Keshi is willing to pay one of his assistants, Houandinou, who is his most trusted backroom staff having worked with him while as Mali and Togo head coach.

    The coach of the African champions is currently in Egypt attending a CAF symposium for analysis on the last two editions of the Afcon in 2012 and 2013.

    He is expected back in Nigeria this week after the symposium ends on Monday.

  • CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Sunshine blew it at home –Chukwu

    CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Sunshine blew it at home –Chukwu

    CHRISTIAN Chukwu said Sunshine Stars blew the chance of advancing to the final of the CAF Champions League with the 3-3 draw in the first fixture in Ijebu-Ode.

    The nation’s last team standing on the continent lost out in their title race after the Egyptian giants, Al Ahly edged them 0-1 in Cairo on Sunday bringing the aggregate score at 3-4.

    Chukwu said the Akure Gunners’ bitter experience should serve as food for thought for others aiming for continent glory.

    “Sunshine Stars lost the title chase at home after they drew 3-3 against Al Ahly.

    “Thereafter I knew it would be hard to upturn the table against Al Ahly in Cairo and it turned out exactly as foreseen.

    “The slim 0-1 loss in Cairo was not a disgrace but potent enough to see them out of the competition.

    “They actually tried their best but sadly it wasn’t enough to see them through to the final they so much desired.

    “I say better luck and preparations next time and other teams queuing behind Sunshine on the continent must at every given time maximise their home advantage.

    “Outside your home shores it can’t be better, it’s tough and difficult,” said the former Nigerian manager to supersport.com.

    Sunshine Stars’ conquerors, Al Ahly will face title holders, Esperance of Tunisia in the two-legged final.

    Esperance edged out Congo’s TP Mazembe on 1-0 aggregate after first fixture ended goalless in Kinshasa a fortnight ago.