Augustine
Azuk a Okocha was born on 14th August, 1973. He is a native of Enugu State.
He has a dual nationality, which is Nigeria
and Turkey.
He is 1.73 tall. Weight 70.82 kg. Jay Jay Okocha is a soccer champion. He is Nigeria’s biggest soccer star through all times
and after playing professional in Germany,
Turkey and France. He is
now one of the English Club Boltons most important players. Augustine Azuka “Jay Jay” Okocaha is a as
Nigerian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
CAREER AND EARLY YEARS
Okocha’s
Jay Jay” name was actually passed down from his older brother. James who
started playing football first. His immediate older brother Emmanuel was also
called Emma Jay Jay, but the name stock with Augustine Okocha first began
playing football on the street like many other football stars, usually with a
makeshift ball.
Jay
Jay Okocha was born in Enugu, Nigeria to Mr and Mrs Okocha of Ogwashi-Uku Delta State, Nigeria. In an interview with BBC
sport he said “as far as I can remember, we used to play with anything with any
round thing we could find and whenever we managed to get hold of a ball, that
was a bonus! I mean It was amazing” known for making the move, “Sombero flick”.
In 1990 he joined Enugu Rangers. In his time at the club he produced many spectacular
displays including one where he rounded off and scored a goal.
JAY JAY OKOCHA’S EARLY ACHIEVEMENT
(Eintracht Frankfort 1992 – 1996).
Okocha
joined Entracht Frankfort in 1992, where he linked up with many well known
players including Ghanian international striker Tony Yeboah and later Thomas
Doll. He continued to shine for the German side, one highlight being a goal he
scored against Karlgruche, dribbling 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 Okocha, Yeboah and Maurizio Gaudino were all involved in a feud with
manger JUPP Heynckes, which led to their departure from the club.
Jay
Jay Okocha’s Archievement (Fenerbahce SK 1996 – 1998)
Okocha
joined Turkish Club Fenerbachce following Eintracht Frankfort’s relegation to
Bundesliga2.
In
his two seasons with the team he amassed 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
champion’s league group stage. While at Fenerbahce he became a Turkish citizen
as “Muahammet Yavuz”
JAY JAY’S INTERNATIONAL CAREER
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 Nigerian trailing 1 – 0 against
Algeria. In a match they needed town he scored from a direct Free kick to
equalize, 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
Africa 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.
In
1996 Okocha became a member of an arguably more successful Nigerian side at the
Atlanta games, later nicknamed Dream Team by the
Nigerian press after the USA
1992 Olympic goal wining basketball team. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup hosted by
France, Okocha played for a disappointing Super Eagle’s side who failed to live
up tot expectations again reaching the round of 16, albeit with less impressive
performances save for their 3 – 2 opening win against Spain.
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
Okocha
did however win the inaugural BBC African footballer of the year and the
successive one becoming the only player to retain the award and win it more
than once.
PERSONAL LIFE
Okocha
met his wife Nkechi in 1994 and they have tow children Daniella and A Jay, his
older brother Emmanuel was also a former international for the Nigeria’s
team. Okocha is a cousin of Prof. Ngozi Okonji Iweala, Nigeria’s
former Minister of Finance, Foreign Affairs Minister and World Bank managing
director. Okocha is also a member of the Anioma a subgroup of Igbo ethnic
group.
