After undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment in Enugu, Enugu Rangers say Christian Chukwu does not need surgery abroad.
On Sunday, Grand Patron of Ex-Enugu Rangers Players Association, Benson Ejindu, said Chukwu, who captained the national team to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil in 1980, was very sick and in urgent need of support to enable him get medical attention overseas.
He added that the ex-Super Eagles coach needed $50,000 for a trip to the United States, where he would undergo surgery, medication and general after-surgery care.
Ejindu said a gofundme account was opened for Chukwu’s medical treatment, adding that $2,450 had been donated by various individuals as at Monday.
But Rangers media officer, Norbert Okolie, said that contrary to Ejindu’s claim, Chukwu was recuperating after treatment in Enugu.
When asked if Chukwu needed to embark on a trip to the US for surgery, Okoli said, “Not at all. He’s undergone surgery in Enugu and doctors have certified him fit. He was advised to stay in a hotel after treatment to ensure that he’s not disturbed by sympathisers.
“His (Chukwu) family didn’t want to make this a public issue but the management of the club had to come out when Ejindu stated that Chukwu needed $50,000 for surgery in the US and that he’s been abandoned by Enugu State Government and Rangers. That’s not true.
“He has had this health challenge for three weeks and the (Enugu) state government supported him all through. Very soon, we’ll have Chukwu walking on his feet again.”
Okoli however declined to comment on Chukwu’s ailment amidst reports that he was suffering from prostate cancer.
“I know that he has a health challenge and is recuperating somewhere in Enugu,” he added.
Also, Rangers General Manager, Davidson Owumi, also denied insinuations that the club abandoned Chukwu, their Technical Director.
“The former coach and ex-national team captain is being attended to in his hour of need as he recovers from a life-threatening health challenge,’’ Okolie in a statement, quoted Owumi as saying.
“We in Rangers made the initial deposit for his admission for medical attention at Nike Clinic in GRA, Enugu.
“After informing the state government of his condition, the sum of N1.5m was made available to his family for treatment, which has been carried out,’’ he added.
Owumi added that Rangers made the initial deposit of N200,000 for his admission and commencement of treatment at the private health facility.
“Our legend Chukwu has been assessed by medical personnel at the hospital and is gradually getting over the health challenge.
“We did not want to make the efforts of Enugu State Government and Rangers in this case public, because his family never wanted his condition a public affair,” Owumi said.
The Enugu State Government on Monday said it would ensure that Chukwu got the best treatment.
Ibuchukwu Nwodo, the Special Adviser to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Rangers Matters, said this in Enugu.
He said, “Chukwu is our own and deserved whatever the state government has spent to ensure that he gets better.
“We are not waiting for intervention from anybody or organisation before we take up our responsibility concerning Chukwu.
“In this particular case, the Nigeria Football Federation and others are external bodies because Chukwu started with us and he is the face of our darling Rangers FC.
“So, NFF can come in because he served them at a higher capacity as Green Eagles captain and coach and not that we have to wait for them.
“Besides, he is our Technical Director and I will not like to disclose all that the state government has done in respect of his ill health.”
Meanwhile, Femi Otedola, the billionaire businessman, has offered to foot the medical bills of Christian Chukwu, former Super Eagles’ coach, according to TheCable.
In the first two days, a GoFundMe appeal raised $4,305 of the $50,000 needed for further treatment.
Speaking to TheCable on phone, Otedola said he would foot the entire cost of the operation as a “token of support to a great Nigerian who served his country to the best of his ability”.
Otedola previously settled the medical bills of the veteran actor, Victor Olaotan, who was at risk of double amputation following a ghastly car accident in 2016.
