IN 1993, former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay-Jay Okocha scored an incredible goal in the Bundesliga. He spoke to Nigeria Info on his state of mind at the time he dribbled past defenders and one of the best goalkeepers, Oliver Khan.
There are only a handful of footballers who can mesmerize fans better than the man who was 'so good that they named him twice' – Augustine Azuka "Jay-Jay" Okocha.
The 48-year-old is a former Nigerian professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. His dexterity allured him to fans across the globe.
Okocha till present day is considered as the best Nigerian midfielder ever and one of Africa’s finest of all time.
In his illustrious career both for club and country which spanned from 1990-2008, the Enugu State-born maestro has scored goals that left mouth agape.
In an interview on 99.3 Nigeria Info with the Nations’ finest sports team, Femi and the Gang, the midfielder who has played in some of the best leagues in the world, admitted that his best goal came during his time in Germany.
“It must be the one I scored in Frankfurt because I was pissed off as I didn’t start the game,” Okocha told Nigeria Info.
“It's crazy because coaches will give you stupid reasons why you're being dropped. He (the coach) told me that he wanted to change the tactics that was why he kept me on the bench.
“Then, when things were not going well, he put me in. I was upset, and when that moment came, I wasn't thinking about anybody else. To me, I was waiting for the right moment, and it came,” Okocha said.
That goal according to the seven-time Nigerian Footballer of the Year is his best.
Hardly debatable as he dribbled past the goalkeeper countlessly he felt dizzy and went past some players twice. The goal was voted Goal of the Season by many football magazines and also voted as 1993 Goal of the Year by viewers of a German broadcast.
Curiously, the odd thing about this great entertainer is that he never taught he would become a professional footballer until it happened.
"Then football was more like a hobby, it was the only toy we could afford,” Okocha explains.
“Where I was born we never had omputer games and all these toys; Football was all we could afford.
“I never thought I would become a professional until later on when things started improving and I realised I can earn a living through football."
Okocha joined Eintracht Frankfurt in December 1991, where he linked up with many well-known players including Ghanaian international striker Tony Yeboah.
He continued to shine for the German side, one highlight being the goal he scored against Karlsruher SC – the team who at the point paid the wages of one of the best goalkeepers to ever play the game – Oliver Khan.
He went on to excel in France as in 1998, he joined capital club Paris Saint-Germain for a fee in around £14 million, the most expensive African player at the time.
During his four-year stint with PSG, he played 84 matches and scored 12 goals. He has also served as a mentor, at the time, for young Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho during his time in Paris.
He considers Ronaldinho as one of the best players he ever played alongside. Also, that glorious list includes national teammate – Kanu Nwankwo –who alongside produced fine moments for Nigerian fans.
To fans of the English Premier League who saw Okocha play at Bolton Wanderers, they can smile as Okocha considers the English top-flight as the toughest he's played.
“The premier league is the toughest because of the pace. Technically, it's not the best league but it saps energy and is highly draining,” Okocha says with a smile on his face.
