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Chukwu makes corruption claims

Chukwu makes corruption claims

Posted: 2009-03-08 13:47

Nine months after Kadiri Ikhana stunned the country by declaring that the domestic league was infested with corruption, he has been joined by his former international team mate and captain Christian Chukwu.

Chukwu's Rangers were beaten 3-1 at home by League contenders Heartland, but the normally equable former Super Eagles coach was so upset that he let rip at the league and the match officials, describing some clubs as 'untouchables'.

"It is not football we are playing anymore in this country. The league is now for the highest bidder," Chukwu lashed out to KickOffNigeria.com after the game. "The ones who have money have become untouchables.

"You do all the work, all the preparation with your players, but if you are a team without money, you can't win the League.

"That is why some clubs can owe their players but can still pay referees.

"Everybody knows what is happening in this country, that is why a true champions will not emerge and our so-called champions will keep getting knocked out of continental competitions."

Chukwu said the match officials disappeared straight after the Heartland game.

"As I am talking to you now, we have not seen any of the referees. They are not in the hotel where they are supposed to be.

"Maybe they packed their bags even before they left for the stadium. That means they knew what they came here for.

"My boys played a very beautiful game, but they denied us all our chances with funny calls.

"Their second goal was offside and the referee allowed it. We had about three clear penalties, but they didn’t give us even one," Chukwu said.

The former national team skipper also said his club are paying the price of poverty.

"Most of our away games are lost through penalties in the dying minutes of the game. They award penalties against us with two or three minutes to go.

"Last week in Gombe, a penalty was awarded for a non-existent foul outside the box. The referee picked up the ball and took it to the penalty spot.

"We have protested, but nothing has been done so far."

Ikhana's revelation led an investigation, but so far, the results of the panel have still not been made public.

There have been pockets of complaints about the standard of refereeing in Nigeria, and while the introduction of television has curbed blatant cheating, it has also shown up some clearly redoubtable incidents.

Gateway officials claimed after their league game in Warri that the match was unjustifiably allowed to stretch to over 110 minutes until a controversial penalty was awarded to the home team.

Akwa United also claimed last week that their 0-1 loss to Heartland was influenced.

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Billion: 2009-03-08 14:30

Heartland FC, the allegations of corruption is a stigma that soils the beauty of triumph, However, your results in the CAF champions league will either vindicate ur victory runs or affirm the fears of the allegations. I love the Heartlands!!

IceQueen: 2009-03-08 14:59

kadiri Ikhana's team won the league last year, and yet he raised the corruption issue,which by the way has been swept under the carpet.

This shows how brave and honest he is.

Now, with all due respect to Mr Chukwu, raising the issue again after his team lost, looks like a case of being a bad loser.

Sley: 2009-03-08 15:10

chukwu should keep low now. His team lost to a better team. We 9ja are d ones bringing corruption. In EPL, chelsea, man u and the big 4 go anywhere home, away,neutral stadium & beat any team yet we keep deaf eyes and blind eyes. Hertland prove they are the best going 2 liberia 2 beat them silly 10 or 11 goals agregate. Chukwu pls teach ur boys the pattern well & dnt blame the ref

felyx: 2009-03-08 16:26

Chukwu should stop deceiving his employers. When did it became a crime to lose a home match. We watch and appreciate European league games where teams win whether home or away. This is not the first time Heartland is winning an away match. Didn't we see them beat the Black Stars of Liberia 6-1 in Monrovia recently. Did the Liberian's cry wolf. Chukwu who has failed severally should accept defeat and look ahead. Defeat is part of football.

SANCHEZ: 2009-03-08 17:00

Look, Chukwu is actually saying the truth but the truth shouldnt come from someone like him cos he has been part of the problem for a long time. Chukwu and his crew fielded dodgy players when he was in charge of the SUPER EAGLES while better players were dropped or benched.Anyway, corruption is not alien to Nigerians, it has eaten deep into the fabric of the nation and there is no solution on sight.The league will continue to produce 'top scorers' that dont even know where the goal post is located, 'best defenders' who cant head the ball out of their penalty box and 'best midfielders' who will end up playing 'professional' football in INDIA. If this corruption issue is not sorted out, the SUPER EAGLES will be the worse for it.

oscar : 2009-03-08 17:36

Guys for whatever it is worth, we can condemn Christian chukwu's statement and not insult him. He is our hero anyday anytime. Chukwu served this country so well. I beg us not to insult him.

@ Di Maria, when Udeze was playing regularly for the Super Eagles, who was Taye Taiwo? When Okocha was playing, who was Mikel? If Chukwu said Taiwo and Mikel should understudy Udeze and Okocha, was that a wrong statement from a coach at that time? Would you have used Taye for Udeze or Mikel for Okocha those days?

Chukwu has paid a big price for Nigerian football, both as a player and coach, and I think he should be respected.

mustang: 2009-03-08 19:01

oscar i think you are beginning to sound like a typical currupt nigerian who sees black and calls it white.. Di maria got it all right in his criticism of chukwu who has been a part of the nigerian currupt system. A good coach always trys to accept results and then look for ways to get better- so i tink this is where chukwu or whatever he is called is lacking. For your information, ifeanyi udeze has never been that better than taiwo as for taiwo to under study him- the only reason why it took us so long to discover taiwo was because chukwu believed there was no player in the league and so gave them no chance but good coaches like yemi tella and siasia have proved him wrong. so oscar, try to be more generous with the truth so we can move this currupt country forward.

oscar : 2009-03-08 19:25

Guys does calling a spade a spade means calling Chukwu "you are a compound moron", "just shut up your nasty mouth"?

I enjoyed comments made by Sley, Billion, Prince, IceQueen, felyx and even Sanchez. There is a way to attack someone without insulting them. What i am saying is that if you attack Chukwu's statement, people will not reason with you or understand your point.

Because someone is a thief does not mean "jungle justice" is the best penalty for that person. I totally agreed with IceQueen the way he presented his comment. That to me is the best comment on this issue.

@ Mustang, if alluding to the fact that insulting someone is not the best way to put a message across makes me sound like one of the politicians, then you do not know how politicians sound.

By the way, you guys should not forget the contributions of players when they were in their prime. Just because they are old now does not mean they werent in their best form sometimes back.

I will still say it, when Udeze was in his best of form, no coach will bring in an inexperienced and young Taiwo.

There is nothing wrong if a player understudy another player. It is better to understudy than to be completely ignored.

Sley: 2009-03-08 19:32

u guys are ryt wit ur comments. Chukwu was rong 4 such statement as that will motivate corruption in our league. This is why most people dont go 2 the stadium 2 watch league match bcos they believe the home team hav one. I guess chukwu shuld come out & apologise for the growth of our league..

oscar : 2009-03-08 20:01

What i am saying is that if you attack Chukwu's statement, people will not reason with you or understand your point.

I meant to say, above, that if you attack Chukwu's statement, people will reason with you and understand your point better than if you insult him.

Billion: 2009-03-08 21:16

Oscar, I understand what u mean...you've made your point. Chukwu made sacrifices and the last time he did say the NFF was owing him almost a million Naira. I don't know if they've paid him now...it is a price!

kessy: 2009-03-08 21:29

Maybe it was heartland that sacked Rangers Assistant coach. Or maybe it was heartland that Chukwu accused few days ago for sabotaging the success of Rangers....Chukwu, you are pointing finger to the wrong place, heartland is a better team and plays better football than Rangers..Lets not forget that the same heartland played Enyimba to standstill at Aba eailier this season..so lets give praises to a better team and stop sounding like a sorry-looser.

adefemi : 2009-03-08 23:19

I hope the NFF will be courageous enough to tackle CHristian Chukwu like it happens in the Premership or Italian League whenever Jose Mourinho makes some unpaltable statements. Otherwise, NFF's silence will be a confirmation of his comments. Let's focus on the allegation instead of CC's past acievements or failures.

Austin: 2009-03-09 14:45

Come on guys, Chukwu is our hero even we are too myopic to recognise a hero when we see one. Tell me, who are the only 2 Nigerians to lift the Nations Cup as captains? Aha aa! Chukwu and Keshi. If these guys are not heros then tell me who is. Some of our comments betray our chronological and psychological immaturity. Please let's grow up and stop insultiong people, least of all Chukwu. Agreed he was out of his depths coaching the SE, but that does not remove from him who he really is. Enough!