JAY JAY OKOCHA’S PROFILE

JAY JAY OKOCHA’S PROFILE

EARLY LIFE: Jay Jay Okocha was born on the 14^th August 1973 in Enugu State into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Okocha of Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area Delta State, Nigeria.

CARRIER AS A FOOTBALLER

Okocha started playing at home at a tender age with any round thing he finds around him, until 1990 he joined Enugu Rangers while in the club, he produced many spectacular displays including one where he rounded off and scored a goal, against experienced Nigerian goalkeeper William Okpara in a watch against BCC Lions. He later traveled to Germany to meet a friend, where he was asked to train with his team after impressing in training, and landed a dead with German third Division side Borussia Neunkirchen.

       Thereafter joined Einfradit Frankfurt in 1992, and was linked up with many well-known players including international striker Tony Yeboah of Ghana and Thomas Poll. He continued to shine for German side, one highlight being a goal he scored against karlsruhe, dribling in the penalty box and slotting the ball past oliver kahn even going past some players twice. The goal was voted goal of the season by many soccer magazines. In 1995 he (Okocha) and friends were involved in a feud with manager JUPP Heynckes, which led to his friends Okocha played till the end of the season when Frankfurt were relegated to the second division before signing for Istanbul club Generbache. In his two seasons with the team he scored thirty goals in sixty appearances, many of them coming from direct free-kicks which had become something of a trademark for him at the club. He was also part of the side that historically defeated Manchester United 1-0 at old Trafford in the 1996-1997 UEFA Champions league group stage. While at Fenerbahce he became a Turkish citizen as Muhammed Yavuz.

       In 1998 French side PSG offered him 24 million making him the most experience African player then. During his four (4) year stint with PSG he played 84 matches and scored 12 goals.

       He later joined Bolton wanderers in 2002 after the FIFA world cup. His debut (first appearance) season despite being hinder by injury, made him a favourite with the Bolton wanderers fans with the team printing shirts with the inscription Jay-Jay so good they manned him twice. He steered the team away from relegation with seven goals including the team goal of the season in the vital league win against West Itam. This was voted Bolton’s best premier league goal in a fans vote in 2008. The next season saw Okocha receive more responsibility as he was given the captain’s armband following Guoni Bergsson’s retirement. As Captain he led Bolton to their first cup final in nine years where they finished runner-up in the 2004 football league cup. In 2006 he was stripped of the captaincy, that led to his refusal of a one year extension in order to move to Qatar.

       After a season in Qatar, Hull City signed him (Okocha) on a free transfer in 2007, after he as linked to Real salt lake and Sydney FC. He was not able to contribute greatly to Hull’s Promotion campaign due to fitness and constant injury problems, playing only 18 games and scoring no goals. Hull still succeeded in grabbling promotion to the premier league.

       He played for Super Eagles and win a 1-0 against Algeria, he scored form a direct free kick to equalized before helping the team to a 4-1 win, eventually securing qualification to debut in World cup. In 1994 he was a member of both the victorious 1994 African Cup of Nations squad and the world cup squad who made it to the second round before they lost in a match against eventual runnas up Italy.

       In 1996 Okochas was a member of an arguably more successful Nigerian side, their Olympic gold winning side at the Atlanta Games, he later nicknamed dream team by the Nigerian press after the USA 1992 Olympic gold winning basket ball team. 1998 FIFA world cup hosted by framed, Okocha played for a disappointing Super Eagles side who failed to live up to expectations again reaching the round of 16, they lost a 3-2 against Spain for their opening match. That did not destroy interest in Okocha, who had entertained fans with his trademark skills and dribbles and went on to be named in the squad of the tournament. Okocha again joined the Supper Eagles in the 2000 African Cup for Nations co-hosted with Ghana. He scored three goals in the tournament, two in the opening game against Tunisha, and a left foot blast outside the penalty area into the top corner in the final against Cameroon, which equalized the score 2-2 and ultimately would send the match into extra time.

       He became the Supper Eagles captain in 2002, He appeared first as a team Captain in the Korea and Japan world cup in 2002. playing in Group E, and was unable to make it to the next round. Okocha later led the Super Eagle to Tunisia for the African Cup of Nation in 2004 with some breathfaking displays, scoring four goals which include a spectacular free kick against Cameroon in the quarter finals and most notably the 1000^th goals in Nations cup History against South Africa, and winning the player of the tournament and joint Golden boat winner. He announced his retirement after the 2006 African Cup of Nation World Cup in Egypt. He made a return to the Super Eagles in a testimonial against an African select side in Warri. The math featured many former & current Super Eagles players.