Enyimba FC Appoints Club Legend Uche Okechukwu as New Sporting Director

Enyimba Football Club has officially announced the appointment of former Nigeria defender and club legend, Uche Okechukwu MON, fondly known as the “Gentle Giant,” as the club’s new Sporting Director.

The appointment follows the resignation of the former Sporting Director and was confirmed in an official letter signed by the Chairman of Enyimba FC. In the letter, the Chairman congratulated Okechukwu on his new role and wished him success, expressing strong confidence in his ability to deploy his vast experience, integrity and deep knowledge of the game to steer the club to greater heights.

The Chairman further noted that the club’s leadership firmly believes Okechukwu’s rich understanding of football administration, elite competition and player development will be crucial in advancing Enyimba FC’s long-term sporting vision and returning the club to the summit of domestic and continental football.

Uche Okechukwu is widely regarded as one of the true icons of Nigerian and African football, and a proud legend of Enyimba FC. He enjoyed an illustrious playing career in Europe, starring for Brøndby IF of Denmark and Fenerbahçe SK of Turkey, where he earned widespread respect for his leadership, composure and defensive excellence. On the domestic scene, he featured for Enyimba FC, Flash Flamingoes FC and Iwuanyanwu National FC, winning several honours.

On the international stage, Okechukwu was a cornerstone of the Nigerian national team during its golden era. He was an integral member of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, and also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States, the country’s first-ever appearance at the tournament.

Two years later, he was one of the three over-age players in Nigeria’s famed “Dream Team” that won the football gold medal at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, alongside Kanu Nwankwo, etching his name permanently into global football history.

Enyimba FC management, players, staff, supporters and the entire Enyimba family have warmly welcomed Uche Okechukwu, MON, back home in this strategic leadership role and expressed optimism for a new era of progress, professionalism and sustained success under his guidance.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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