OBITUARY

Christian Chukwu: …And the Field Marshal Goes Off the Field

Published

7 months ago

April 13, 2025

BY MITCHELL OBI

All that goes indeed returns. The one who was born in Kenyatta Street in Enugu and rose to coach Kenya has joined the great orchestra of Green/ Super Eagles captains upstairs.

Chukwu, a messianic skipper was simply inimitable, and it is fitting he titled his book which I reviewed the first edition inside the National Arts Theatre as the Field Marshal.

Soft-spoken but steely at heart and drive, Chukwu also made his imprint as a legendary assistant coach in Nigeria’s football milestones and landmarks.

He was part of the Sebastian Brodericks coaching crew that won Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA trophy (the Kodak Under-16 World Cup in China). He was also part of the coaching team of Clemens Westerhof that made waves that still rule our thoughts and dreams today.

Chukwu gave us joy on the pitch with his commitment to endeavour and results.

He represented the face of the game and even in his first stint of transition from player to coach he won the glamorous Challenge Cup for the only club (Rangers International) which he devotedly served till this week when the great call beckoned.

Today is Oriental Derby Day as two clubs moulded by the same hands and sharing the same colour of royal white and blood red will converge in the cathedral.

Rangers versus Heartland should be the game to start the tribute to the quintessential and pacesetting skipper of the Eagles.

Indeed the veritable Eagle is now upstairs and the triumphant canticles can bellow on in this Palm Sunday.

Soot Suku! soot Suku! Did I hear voices from Ibadan…no it is not Africa Cup Winners Cup time.

The Marshal is off the field. All that goes returns.

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OBITUARY

World’s oldest living gold medallist Charles Coste dies at 101

Published

3 days ago

November 3, 2025

Kunle Solaja

French cyclist Charles Coste, who had been the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist, has died aged 101, French media reported on Sunday.

Coste, who won Olympic gold in track cycling’s team pursuit alongside Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, and Fernand Decanali, passed away on Thursday.

He had been the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist following the death of Hungarian artistic gymnast Agnes Keleti at the age of 103 on 2 January 2025.

Coste was one of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His record also includes the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations, a 140-km time trial in which he beat Italian Fausto Coppi, a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia champion.

Charles Cost, who will turn 100 years old on Thursday, Olympic champion in Men’s Team Pursuit in track cycling at the 1948 London Games and oldest living French Olympic champion, poses with a cyclist figurine during an interview at his apartment, in Bois-Colombes, near Paris, France, February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

-Reuters

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OBITUARY

Spanish keeper Ramirez, 19, dies after on-field collision

Published

1 month ago

September 29, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Spanish fifth-division goalkeeper Raul Ramirez has died at the age of 19 following a collision during a match for his club Colindres, the Cantabrian Football Federation (RFCF) said on Monday.

Ramirez sustained a head injury during Saturday’s game against Revilla, with Spanish media reporting that the impact led to multiple cardiac arrests and left him brain dead.

The RFCF announced three days of mourning and said a minute’s silence would be observed at all matches next week in his memory.

-Reuters

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OBITUARY

Former Liverpool, Chelsea manager Beard dies aged 47

Published

2 months ago

September 21, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Matt Beard has died at the age of 47, the two Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs announced late on Saturday.

Beard led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 during his first stint at the club, before returning to the side in 2021 and guiding them back to the top-flight after two seasons in the second tier.

He left Liverpool in February, with his last coaching role coming in a brief spell in charge of Burnley between June and August.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Matt’s family and friends at this devastating time,” Liverpool said in a statement.

“Matt was not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club.”

Beard began his managerial career at Millwall before moving to Chelsea in 2009. He also coached West Ham United, Boston Breakers and Bristol City.

-Reuters

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