Jay-Jay Okocha

thumb|Okocha playing in a 2017 charity match Augustine Azuka Okocha (born 14 August 1973), commonly known as Jay-Jay Okocha, is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Quotes I think every player is unique, you know," says the man himself. We have got a lot of talented players in the Bundesliga. But, with all due respect, maybe I was a little bit special. Jay-Jay Okocha interview: Beating Oliver Kahn to score what Jurgen Klopp called the greatest-ever Bundesliga goal. Sky Sports, 9 September 2022. The difference is that in Europe you have everything you need to improve as a player and you’re playing under better coaches and a better environment. In Nigeria, we lack facilities and that disturbs one’s opportunity to perform and bring out the best in a young player. I was lucky that I left Nigeria early. Jay Jay Okocha: Nigeria Can’t Bring Out The Best In Players, I’m Lucky I Left Early. Arise News, 14 May 2023. Maybe 1 billion Euros should have been paid for me. They [Chelsea] paid £106 million for their defensive midfielder; to a player from Portugal. I would have cost around €150 million. My assists, dribbles… World football started to pay a lot of money. Such would be the numbers of players of this quality. Jay-Jay Okocha: The dazzling dribbler who danced his way into football greatness. FIFA, 27 April 2023. I couldn’t say anything. When it happened I felt bad but then I said to myself it’s time to move on and that was when I left. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows People only see the only product and not the process. We were in camp in America and we woke up one day and our training coach was gone. They took the bus with the spare key because the FA hadn’t paid for the bus to take us. And then for a week the hotel was giving us the same meal, rice and sauce with chicken. For dinner. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows We went to them and say why aren’t you changing our menu they said we should be glad we are still here because our FA hasn’t paid for the food and accommodation. Few of us had to bring our card and pay for accommodation and then went and rented minivans to stay in camp. It shows the desire we had. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows My lowest happened in two occasions. When I got relegated in Frankfurt in 1996. I felt bad. Sometimes we develop this winning habit and with Frankfurt we were always competing to win the league and all of a sudden they brought this manager that just destroyed the team and I could see it coming but I had no voice. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows I couldn’t say anything. When it happened I felt bad but then I said to myself it’s time to move on and that was when I left.” Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows Sometimes my mistakes were seen as me joking with the ball, because they weren’t used to my style,” he said. “But I knew I needed an identity. If I played like one of them, what was the need for them to sign me? Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows Another low moment was when we failed to qualify for 2006 World Cup which was in Germany. That would have been my fourth World Cup. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows It was a tough period. Maybe the most difficult time of my life,” he once recalled. “My challenges were off the pitch—the food, the language, the culture. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows You can’t wash away poverty with champagne,” Okocha explained. “You can only wash away poverty when you are able to take up the responsibilities waiting for you. Okocha speaks on his highest highs and lowest lows That’s the difference between Europe and Africa. Back then the administrators didn’t see the need for it. The difference was that Europeans were ahead. Once they know that you’ve qualified that you’re going to need a camping site then they start arranging for it. Okocha speaks of the difference between Africa and Europe We always leave our things last minute and then maybe the government hasn’t realized the budget but we have to go so they bundle us to the camp in hope that they are coming in three days to sort the bills. Okocha speaks of the difference between Africa and Europe My contract money is for investment Okocha speaks of the difference between Africa and Europe When you have a vision, when you have a dream, and if you’re strong mentally, nothing that is thrown at you can stop you, Okocha speaks of the difference between Africa and Europe The area where I grew up, the tribe—we are business inclined Okocha speaks of the difference between Africa and Europe I was just being out there, playing the game that we love, without thinking that one day it might be my career. Most of us were dreaming to play for this club because we didn't have a lot of Nigerians playing abroad. We were not in touch with the Premier League, for example. Our dream was just limited to playing for that one big team. A football was the only toy that we had as a child. [We played] without shoes. I think I had my first football shoe at the age of 12 and it was so uncomfortable. I had to get used to it because I was used to playing barefooted. The desire that I had to succeed, having to leave my family, having to go to a country where you don’t understand the language, you don’t understand the culture. I think it gave me something that was special, in a way that I am free whenever I’m on the pitch. That's where I can express myself. That was what my upbringing gave me. had to learn the hard way because there was nobody to advise me, nobody to talk to. I had to figure everything out by myself. You're not just playing for your community. You're playing for a whole continent, you are trying to leave a good impression so that the next child will be given the opportunity. It means everything to me, to make sure that I leave the door open for the next generation, because as an African playing in Europe, you have to realise that you're not just playing for yourself. If I look back now, for me, it's more like a job well done, because I left my mark." External links Jay-Jay Okocha Category:1973 births Category:Soccer players from Nigeria Category:Living people Category:Olympic gold medalists for Nigeria