TheNewsGuru

Tag: Okocha

  • HEINEKEN MATCH: Jay-Jay Okocha, Davido deny Dutch legend, Clarence Seedorf of victory

    HEINEKEN MATCH: Jay-Jay Okocha, Davido deny Dutch legend, Clarence Seedorf of victory

    Former Super Eagles midfielder, Jay-Jay Okocha has led his Team Nigeria side, featuring Nigerian music star, Davido, in a football recital against Team Heineken, captained by Four-time Champions League winner and iconic Dutch footballer, Clarence Seedor.

     

    The novelty match, which was organised by international premium beer brand, Heineken, took place at Landmark Beach, Abuja, on Tuesday, April 12, 2022.

     

    With Okocha finding the net with almost every shot he took, Seedorf hit the woodwork twice before finding the back of the net twice.

     

    Davido alongside colleagues Darey and MI teamed up ex-Super Eagles stars (Jay-Jay Okocha, and Taribo West) to battle Seedorf’s team in the Heineken Face-off, a novelty match that was held at Landmark Beach.

     

    The novelty match showcased some classy football skills from both sides.

     

    For the game, Seedorf was supported by topshots at NB Plc including Supply Chain Director, Martin Kochl and Finance Director, Rob Kleinjan.

     

    The game was filled with fun moments and had over 500 fans watching.

     

    Seedorf headlined this year’s Heineken UEFA Champions League trophy tour.

     

    He was the first and currently the only player to have won the UEFA Champions League Trophy with three different clubs.

     

    Others on the Heineken team include; Martin Kochl, Supply Chain Director NB Plc, Rob Kleinjan, Finance Director NB Plc as well as Jelle Van der Meer, Max Crombaach and Maarten Vrolijk.

     

    Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Emmanuel Oriakhi, described the faceoff challenge as another Heineken Football Experience which remains unrivalled even as he predicts there will be lots of fun in the five-a-side contest.

     

    The match was part of the long-chain of activities for the Trophy Tour.

  • I didn’t do my research before moving to England – Okocha

    I didn’t do my research before moving to England – Okocha

    Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, has insisted that he didn’t do his research before moving to England to join Bolton Wanderers from Paris Saint-Germain in 2002.

    Okocha shocked many football fans when he left French Ligue 1 giants PSG for Bolton in the Premier League nineteen years ago.

    Though PSG was not a top club then when Okocha left, it was still a surprise to see the former Super Eagles captain leave for Bolton, who were battling relegation in the Premier League then.

    But Okocha has now revealed he did not know Bolton’s status in the Premier League before signing, adding that it took him a lot of time before he settled in the club.

    “Well, I will say that it’s obvious I didn’t do my research before signing for Bolton,” Okocha told Ally McCoist and Gabriel Agbonlahor on their Talksport breakfast show.

    “But as a football person, you know football comes first, not the city, not the lifestyle that comes with the City.”

    “But one thing was clear, the training ground was different. The attitudes towards the games were different.

    “And I also think the mentality, you know the football style was difficult.”

    Okocha added, “It took me a while to really understand what Sam’s philosophy was.”

    But despite his early struggles at Bolton, Okocha went on to earn a legendary status at the club.

    The former midfield maestro helped Bolton to avoid relegation in his first season, winning the goal of the season.

    He was also made the captain in his second season, and as a captain, he led Bolton to a league cup final in 2004, where they lost to Middlesbrough.

    Okocha eventually made 144 appearances for Bolton, scoring 18 goals and providing three assists before leaving for Qatar in 2006.

  • Super Eagles: Shame that Kanu, Okocha didn’t get 100 caps – Enyeama

    Super Eagles: Shame that Kanu, Okocha didn’t get 100 caps – Enyeama

    Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has said it is a shame that former players like Austin Okocha, Peter Rufai, and Nwankwo Kanu, didn’t play at least 100 matches for the national team.

    In the seven decades history of international football, only two players have a century of caps for the senior national team – Enyeama and Joseph Yobo.

    Okocha has only 73 caps, Rufai boasts of just 65 appearances, while Kanu amassed 86 caps.

    Enyeama told ESPN: “One hundred caps is nothing. I think it is a shame that we have only two players that have played for Nigeria up to 100 times.

    “It is a big shame because with the quality we have in Nigeria, we should have more. That shows that there is a lack of continuity, consistency, commitment on the part of the players and management.

    “Look at other top football countries; you will find that many of their players, active and retired, have more than 100 caps.

    “But we have players in Nigeria playing 10 to 15 years and still don’t get up to 100 caps because these coaches come in and change players all the time.

    “Players like Jay Jay (Okocha), Peter Rufai, Kanu deserve to have more than 100 caps. It is sad that Mikel could not get up to 100 because he was very close to it. Going forward, we need to do better. We need more players to get there.”

  • I gave Oliseh painkillers to play in AFCON 2000 finals – Okocha

    I gave Oliseh painkillers to play in AFCON 2000 finals – Okocha

    Former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha has revealed that he gave Sunday Oliseh painkillers to play at the 2000 African Cup of Nations final against Cameroon in Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Oliseh was almost required to pull out of the final after provoking a hamstring injury in their 2-0 win over South Africa in the semi-final.

    The defensive midfielder had an enormous impact in the quarter-final win over Senegal, coming off the bench to bag an assist as the Eagles came from a goal down to beat the Teranga Lions 2-1.

    Narrating the final defeat to Cameroon on penalties, after full and extra time ended 2-2, Okocha in a chat with Punch said: “We were having a good tournament heading into the final but Sunday (Oliseh) was not fully fit to play.

    “We needed him in the team for the final and also as the captain of the team, so I offered him painkillers to play.

    “I gave him the painkillers because playing with him gave me and the forwards in the team more confidence to attack. It’s unfortunate that we lost the final the way we did in front of our home fans.”

     

    The midfielder (Oliseh) also said he was far from being fully fit for final.

    “Those are some of the sacrifices we made for our country. I wasn’t fully fit to play but I got assurance that some painkillers will relieve me for the duration of the final. It’s just sad that we lost the game.”

    Okocha made his official debut for Nigeria in their 2–1 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier away loss against Ivory Coast in May 1993. It was not until his second cap and home debut that he became a favourite with the Nigerian supporters. With Nigeria trailing 1–0 against Algeria, in a match they needed to win, he scored from a direct free kick to equalise, before helping the team to a 4–1 win, eventually securing qualification to their first 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 dramatic match against eventual runners-up Italy.

     

     

     

  • Okocha contacts me regularly – Iwobi

    Okocha contacts me regularly – Iwobi

    Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed how his famous uncle Jay-Jay Okocha is in regular contact.

    Iwobi says he doesn’t feel any pressure to live up to his elder relative as he is given plenty of encouragement to be himself when he plays.

    Speaking to Weekend Warmup, he said: “He’s always encouraging me, I don’t feel the pressure at all.

    “He has always being telling me from young just go and express yourself so I don’t feel no pressure whenever I’m stepping on the pitch.

    “I remember as a kid just going to watch him and some of the skills, some of the performances, the assists, the goals he used to get were outrageous.

    “Maybe one day I can produce better than him.”

  • Okocha was my hero – Samuel Chukwueze

    Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze has revealed his admiration for former Nigeria international Jay-Jay Okocha.

    The highly-rated youngster has continued to turn heads in La Liga since breaking into the first team of the Yellow Submarine last season.

    Chukwueze scored eight goals in as many appearances last term amid other dazzling displays to help Villarreal finish 14th.

    The forward also shone at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the Super Eagles finish third in the biennial tournament.

    The young winger, who is known for his dribbling skills, has disclosed his respect for his football idol.

    “My big hero was Jay-Jay Okocha. I loved watching him, and whenever he played for Nigeria I would be so desperate to see him win. If they lost, I wouldn’t eat. I couldn’t take it,” Chukwueze told Goal.

    “In my home town we would have a local centre and I would try to go there to watch Nigeria games. We didn’t have a TV, but there was one there. I would peep through the window to see Okocha and the rest.”

    Villarreal have endured a slow start to the season, given they are winless in their opening three league games.

    The winger, who opened his 2019-20 goal account in their 4-4 draw with Granada, has revealed his desire to always be on the winning side.

    “I’m not a good loser. When I was younger and my team lost, I would cry. I’ve stopped that now, but I still hate to lose. Even on the PlayStation if I lose, I will throw the controller. Winning is everything to me,” he added.

    Chukwueze is part of the 25-man squad invited for the Super Eagles’ friendly game against Ukraine on September 10.

    Thereafter, he will hope to help Villarreal clinch their first win of the season when they slug it out with Leganes on September 14.

  • Okocha got skills but the nutmeg is mine, Alex Iwobi boasts

    Okocha got skills but the nutmeg is mine, Alex Iwobi boasts

    Arsenal star Alex Iwobi admitted that his uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha has some dribbling skills but sees himself as the owner of the nutmeg skill.

    During the just-concluded season, Iwobi dazzled through opposition’s defence on several occasions with his cheeky move by putting the ball between the legs of defenders.

    The Nigeria international earned himself the title of the ‘nutmeg prince’ and he is not ready to share the title with Okocha who is considered as one of the best dribblers during his active days, Goal reports.

    “I will take ownership of the nutmeg. My uncle Okocha has got the skills but the nutmeg, the prince title they call me for that, I will say it is my ownership,” Iwobi told the NFF media.

    “It happens instinctively, sometimes the easiest way of getting past my opponent. I’ve been given a title and I can’t let my people down.”

    Iwobi had improved playing time in the 2018-19 season and scored six goals in 51 appearances across all competitions for the Gunners.

    He topped his impressive displays by scoring Arsenal’s only goal in their Uefa Europa League final defeat to Chelsea that ended 4-1 but he sees the consolation effort as a motivation to win the European title next season.

    “This year, I’ve progressed and I’ve been more composed. It is basically being more efficient in the final third either making the final pass or scoring,” he added.

    “There were mixed emotions to score in the [Europa League] final. It is a big achievement but obviously not the result I wanted if I could trade the goal for the result I would.

    “It is one of the goals I just have to cherish that would make me hungry to try and win the Europa League next season.”

    Iwobi has established himself at the Super Eagles since he made his debut four years ago and he has described his feeling whenever he puts on the national team jersey.

    “I have been very blessed to be given the opportunity to play for Super Eagles. I’m always hungry and eager to represent my country and make them proud,” he concluded.

  • Okocha faces fresh troubles as Lagos Court orders his arrest

    A Lagos Division of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Super Eagles star, Austin Okocha, over tax evasion charges.

    Jay Jay Okocha as he is popularly known – has repeatedly failed to appear before the court to answer why he allegedly failed to pay his income taxes.

    Adedayo Akintoye, the judge, issued the warrant for the arrest of the former Eagles captain on January 29 and thereafter adjourned until February 19.

    However, on February 19, the prosecution had not effected the arrest forcing the judge to, again, adjourn till April 15 and ordering that the warrant be executed by then.

    The football star is facing a three-count charge instituted by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice bordering on failure to furnish his income returns and nonpayment of tax.

    The state filed the charges through its prosecutor, Jide Martins, in June 2017 and the suit began four months later.

    The defendant, however, had failed to appear in court.

    After several adjournments without Okocha appearing despite having been served the court papers, Mr Martins prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

    According to the prosecutor, Okocha had failed to furnish his income returns for tax purposes to the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service.

    Martins also said that the defendant had failed to pay his income taxes.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 56 (a) and (b) of the Lagos State Revenue Administration Law No. 8, 2006 and Section 94 (1) of the Personal Income Tax Act Cap P8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

     

  • 2018 World Cup: Okocha urges Nigerians not to set unrealistic target for Super Eagles

    Former PSG and Super Eagles midfield maestro, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has warned Nigerian Football officials and fans against setting unrealistic target for the team ahead of the World Cup.

    Nigeria will play Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D of the tournament in Russia.

    The former Bolton Wanderers playmaker warned that such target will put the team under pressure.

    Okocha spoke with SuperSport, saying, “It will be a huge achievement if you could get out of the group stage and after which anything can happen.

    “We should be careful not to set unrealistic targets for the team.”

    Okocha added that playing for Nigeria was the pinnacle of his career.

    “It doesn’t get any better to play for Nigeria. It was not for the money, but the pride to represent 160 million people is priceless. It was the pinnacle of my career.

    “Football is not just a sport in Nigeria, it’s not just part of the religion or the culture, it is life.

    “It is a great opportunity to eradicate poverty with football.

    “With football, we have a voice,” he said.

  • I want to be better than Okocha – Iwobi

    Super Eagles and Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi has said that he wants to do better than his uncle and former Captain of the Super Eagles, Austin Okocha.

    Alex Iwobi Iwobi was first called to the Super Eagles by the previous coach Sunday Oliseh even before he made his League debut at Arsenal back in 2015.

    “I feel very honoured and proud to be playing for Nigeria”, said Iwobi adding, “I have always wanted to play for Nigeria and I enjoy each minute we gather and when we play.” says Iwobi in an interview session with Aclsports.

    He said being related to Okocha was not a burden or a huge pressure for him.

    “No pressure at all. He is an inspiration and is always talking to me and giving me advice”
    Iwobi said.

    “I want to do better than him in a way that will make him proud of me”.