Chairman Christian Chukwu is a household name that needs no introduction to followers of Nigeria football. Chukwu, a former captain and coach of Rangers international Football Club of Enugu and the national team is currently the Technical Director of the reigning Nigeria League champions, Rangers. In the wake of the draw of the 2017 CAF Champions League last week, Chukwu spokeon Rangers chances in the Champions League and on the Super Eagles.
Q.   The draw for the 2017 CAF Champions League pitches Rangers against Algerian team, JS Saoura. Tongues have been wagging since the draw, with most Nigerians expressing fears over Rangers chances.
If you want to be a champion, you must not fear anybody. We (Rangers) are not afraid of the Algerians but will respect them. Just as some Nigerians are panicking, so are the Algerians. They too don’t feel comfortable because they have been paired with Rangers. Every team that have qualified for a championship is a potential champion. That is why no team should be underrated, not the least Rangers. I am not among those saying any particular team is tough or easy.
Q.   The fear over Rangers chances is based on the fact that some of their best legs are leaving. As we speak, the team’s top scorer and brightest prospect,
Chisom Egbuchulam is in Tunisia as we heard he has successfully undergone his medical with Etoil du Sahel of Tunisia. How do you intend to cope without keeping your best legs?
I don’t think the player in question has gone to Tunisia yet. Negotiations are still ongoing. But mark it Rangers will not stand in the way of any young player who wants to go out in search of the Golden Fleece. We are happy for him. Once the club in question is able to meet Rangers terms and conditions, Chisom will be free to go. Who knew Chisom two years ago?
Football is about team work and the club has the capacity to bring up more Chisoms. Apart from him, however, majority of the players who won the league are still in the team
Q.   What is the morale in camp as there were reports that the players were not happy with the sharing formula adopted for the monetary reward by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
That is not true because the boys are in high spirit. The Governor has motivated them to the highest level. Even those who were thinking of leaving are beginning to backtrack. The spirit is high and they have promised the governor the Champions League trophy. How can the national team coach, Gernot Rohr consolidate his early achievements with the team as the next 2018 FIFA World Cup fixture is against Cameroon?
My happiness is that the manager is doing exactly what we, the NFF Technical Committee want. We have discussed with and told him what we want and we are happy he has been following our discussions and posting good results. All we need do now is to beat Cameroon here, go to Yaounde get a draw and we are in Russia. In the next one year, we will have a formidable squad that can stand against the best in the world.
Q.   What do you think has been going for Rohr with the national team?
The team’s morale is high at the moment. When he calls players to camp you notice the response is 100%. No late comers, no big man in camp any more, because every player want to win his place in the team. With this spirit in camp, Rohr is beginning to mould them into a team that is full of promise. We are appealing to the Federal Government to ensure his programme is executed to the letter and let there be no disruptions in our march to Russia.
Q.   You were a renowned defender and the Eagles defence has been a source of worry to many fans. Does it not worry you?
The coach is looking at every department of the team. In modern football no department of a team is static. The first line of defence is attack. Where the attackers are not doing well, the midfielders suffer and eventually the defense crumbles. In modern football, defenders, midfielders help shore up the attack. The entire team is mobile so the blame cannot be on one department. All that is being looked into by the manager.
Q.   Rohr’s recruitment process came under scrutiny recently when it was said the manager has sworn never to invite clubless players to camp, no matter how good such players may be. How do you view this?
I support Rohr. He is absolutely correct. If you think you are good you must play for a club. You can’t be good and you won’t have a club. A player without a club cannot claim to be good. You must be marketable if you are good. By the way, how does one evaluate your worth if you don’t have a club? The national team is not a rehabilitation centre. Rohr is absolutely right about that.
Q.   Mikel Obi has been in the news of late, particularly, as it affects his fate at Chelsea. He is yet to play a league game under coach Conte. What is your advice for him?
Mikel Obi is no more a young player. He has come of age to know whether he wants to play for money or just play for fun. He still has a few years left to play competitive football. I will support if he goes where he can have regular playing time. If he wants to play for big money he should know what he wants.
