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Part 1 | Chukwu: ‘I have several ex-teammates that I still help financially every month in SA’

Raphael Chukwu's kindness has never known any limits despite all the defenders that he frequently bulldozed his way during his time at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The big Nigerian striker arrived in South Africa in 1996 and went on to have four spells with Sundowns.

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At the end of his last stint during the 2004/05 season, he had left lasting memories for fans of the domestic game after hammering 63 goals in 124 starts.

Chukwu also made friends and set up his business interests while still wearing the colours of The Brazilians.

"I have lucrative business interests here in Nigeria, so I haven't had time to go into coaching or scouting for players," Chukwu tells KickOff.com from back home in Nigeria where he has business interests.

The 48-year-old also has family in USA.

"My business interests keep me busy.

"Then my issue with coaching is that there are no guarantees because when the team is winning credit goes to the players and when the team loses, you are fired.

"What then happens next is that you are out of a job for a year or two and how do you survive through that time.

"So, in my case I have decided to stay away from coaching and the blessing is that God has been great to me.

chukwu

"I don't want to talk too much about this, but I have several of my former teammates in South Africa who are struggling that I stil lhelp up to this day.

"Life is not easy for most of them, and I don't blame them so that is why I do help financially almost every month.

"Most of them were not able to invest the income that they made from football, but I was lucky that I had people who could advice me and I was able to put money in the right places and today I'm enjoying it.

"I always do the little that I can to help because I know it is not easy for them. "I have seven to eight people that I played with who I have helped or still help financially every month.

"I can go to bed knowing very well that tomorrow I will wake up with money to do whatever I want. 

"Whenever you can do that, you must be grateful that you are not a begger. 

"I have never wanted to be a beggar and just want my kids to enjoy it.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 20, Raphael C 

"My hope is that the current generation gets to invest their money wisely because they are making more than us.

"Life is cruel after retirement here in Africa because there is never any money to cover you past your playing days.

"I played in Italy, and they used to put away some money from our salaries which they then give you once you stop playing so that it helps set you up.

"When you have retired and stopped playing, people will not look at you the way they did when you were still playing.

"I'm lucky that I come from the kind of good family that I come but I have never had to look up to them for my survival because I set myself right.

"I invested into telecommunications when MTN was setting up here in Nigeria and I'm grateful to Tebogo (Mogapi) for the role he played those years back in linking me up to that business.

"I now have other business interest which include the restaurant and sports bar sector here in Lagos," says Chukwu who also has family in the USA.

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