So Good They Named Him Twice
Augustin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has to be one of the most famous Nigerian and African footballers ever. He was named Nigerian Footballer Of The Year seven times and was runners-up once. Those that saw him play will remember him for his skills and dribbling ability. On his day, he was unplayable. He had so many tricks up his sleeve it was almost like playing against a player from another universe altogether. He was an artist of the game.
First Impression & USA 94
He caught my attention first when he played for Nigeria. I didn’t recall it at that time but he was in Nigeria’s 1994 World Cup squad. This was a team that had taken the tournament by storm in their World Cup finals debut. Recently, I had watched Nigeria’s Second Round exit from the competition at the hand of eventual runners-up and my favourite, Italy. Italy had more chances to score but it was Okocha that dictated the game from his central midfield position. He ran the show and was the best player on the pitch.
Olympics Glory
The Nigerians would go a few steps better two years later at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA. Despite their eye-catching performances at the 1994 World Cup, very few people expected them to get to the final of the 1996 Olympic Games let alone win the gold medal. Along the way, they thrilled everyone watching by coming from 1–3 down to beat Brazil 4–3 in extra-time in the semi-final. In the final again, they showed their powers of recovery to come from 1–2 down to beat Argentina 3–2. Two big, illustrious names of world football, Brazil and Argentina beaten. Okocha played a big part for that team.
Start Of International Decline From France 1998
At the next World Cup, I remember another thrilling result, beating Spain 3–2 in Nigeria’s first game of the 1998 World Cup. They were expected to be the dark horses in this tournament after the impression they created at the previous World Cup and for winning the Olympics gold medal. The football world was stunned when Denmark sent them packing by thrashing them 4–1 in the 2nd Round. Okocha did well enough to be named as a reserve player in the 1998 FIFA World Cup All-Star team. Nigeria was eliminated early from the Group of Death four years later in 2002.
Goal Of The Year & Club Career
For his national team, Okocha only won one other international honour, the 1994 African Cup of Nations and was the African Cup of Nations Top Scorer and Best Player in 2004. At club level, he played for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga where he scored the German Goal Of The Year in 1993 after bringing the entire Karlsruher SC defence including goalkeeper Oliver Kahn on a dance before scoring. He moved to Turkey after that to join Fenerbahce before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in France where he mentored a young Ronaldinho.
Last Glorious Hurrah, Bolton Wanderers
It was at Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League that I got to see his skills more regularly. He inspired unfancied Bolton to their first cup final in nine years in the 2004 League Cup. He was also named as club captain a season after joining the club and was a firm fans favourite. He lit up not only Bolton but the league as well with his skills, tricks, flicks and goals. He retired in 2008 after spells in Qatar and at Hull City.
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