Jay-Jay Okocha @ 47: Too Good His Name Is Called Twice

By Ekene Dike and Augustine Adah

He was so good they named him twice. Augustine Jay Jay Okocha’s bamboozling tricks on the ball made him stand out during his playing days. The attacking midfielder was a colossal source of entertainment on the pitch.

In 1990, he started playing for Enugu Rangers in Nigeria. That was where his dazzling style of play was first noticed. He travelled out of the country to German soil, where he played for three German clubs, which were Borussia Neunkirchen, FC Saarbrucken and Eintracht Frankfurt.

At Eintracht Frankfurt, Okocha did the unthinkable when he dribbled past multiple defenders, ridiculed Oliver Khan and slotted the ball into the net. His amazing goal was voted as the goal of the season. He scored a total of 30 goals in 62 games. Scoring direct free kicks became his trademark at the club.

After his impressive stint at Frankfurt, he played for Fenerbahce in Turkey and PSG in France. Ronaldinho saw Okocha as a mentor at PSG.

English football club Bolton Wanderers acquired the services of Jay Jay in 2002. The Bolton Wanderers fans idolized him and they always chanted “Jay Jay so good they named him twice” while he was playing. He spectacularly helped the team escape relegation with seven goals. His heroics made him become the team captain. He joined Hull City in 2007, where he retired.

At international level, Okocha represented Nigeria at various tournaments. He was part of the Dream Team that won Olympics gold in the male football category in 1996, he won the African Cup Of Nations in 1994, won three bronze medals at the African Cup Of Nations and a silver medal at the African Cup of Nations in 2000. He also played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups. During his time with the Super Eagles, sensational performances were displayed from him.

However, despite his football mastery, he failed to win the CAF African Player Of the year award.

On the occasion of his 47th birthday, the football icon born in Enugu, is indeed worthy to be extolled for the beauty and joy he showed the world can flow from the pitch.

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