Former Super Eagles captain, Jay-jay Okocha has been named in the top 100 best foreign players to feature in the English Premier League list, created by football magazine, FourFourTwo.
The former Bolton player was described by the magazine thus, “Okocha almost single-handedly rescued Bolton from relegation trouble in his first season, netting crucial long-range goals and dazzling the Premier League with a string of outrageous skills and showboats that embarrassed a host of opponents. For half a season, he wasn’t far from being the best player in the league – even at Bolton.”
Okocha who won the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and the Premier League Player of the Month in November 2003 represented Nigeria 75 times with 14 goals to his name. In March 2004, he was named one of the top 125 living footballers by Pelé and hung his boots for the Super Eagles in 2006
Jay Jay Okocha named Delta State football boss
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has emerged the new Delta State Football Association Chairman following his victory in today’s polls.
The former Bolton Wanderers replaces Amaju Pinnick, who is the current president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Okocha thus joins the likes of Christopher Green, Abubakar Ladan and Ganiyu Majekodunmi, and many others who have emerged as winners in their respective State FA elections.
Fellow ex internationals Edema Fuludu and Victor Ikpeba are also on the Delta Football Association as chairman and member respectively.
Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Taribo West, Mercy Akide, others get NFF appointment.
Ex- internationals; Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Celestine Babayaro, Finidi George, Taribo West, Tijani Babangida others have been appointed as members of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Study Group.
The group which was set up after Nigeria’s shocking exit from the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations will focus on getting talented Nigerian players into the developmental leagues in Europe for the purpose of creating a pool of future Super Eagles’ players and work hard at getting more Nigerian–born footballers in Europe to commit to representing their fatherland.
Headed by Jay Jay Okocha, also included in the group are; Kashimawo Laloko, Henry Nwosu, Peter Rufai, Dominic Iorfa,Dahiru Sadi, Gbenga Ogunbote, Mutiu Adepoju, Florence Omagbemi, Mercy Akide-Udoh, nn Chiejine, Benedict Akwuegbu, Michael Obiku, Darlington Omodiagbe, Eucharia Uche, Salisu Yusuf, Alloy Agu and Benedict Iroha
Meanwhile, to improve the quality of coaching, match–reading and backroom analysis in the country and ultimately improve the fortunes of the various national teams, the Executive Committee adopted a proposal by its President, Amaju Pinnick, to sponsor 17 persons on a two week, intensive training programme in the United Kingdom.
They include; Sam John Obuh, Isa Ladan Bosso, Shaibu Amodu, Salisu Yusuf, Paul Aigbogun, Kelechi Emeteole, David Ngodigha, Edema Fuludu, Yisa Sofoluwe, Nwankwo Kanu, Augustine ‘Jay –Jay’ Okocha, Garba Lawal, Dahiru Sadi, Siji Lagunju, Ann Chiejine, Florence Omagbemi and Garba Musa.
Credit: Daily Independent NG