1. Augustine Azuka “Jay-Jay” Okocha was born on the 14th day of August 1973 in Enugu State, Nigeria. He was born to his parents, Mr and Mrs Azuka Okoch who hailed from Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria....CONTINUE READING
2. The name “Jay-Jay” was actually passed down from his elder brother James, who started playing football first. His immediate elder brother, Emmanuel was also called Emma Jay-jay, but the name stuck with Okocha instead. Below is a photo of James and Emma.
3. Jay-Jay Okocha began playing football on the streets just like many other football stars, usually with a makeshift ball.
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!”
4. In 1990, Okocha joined Enugu Rangers. In his time at 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 match against BCC Lions. Below is him being congratulated by a Nigerian Government Sports official.
5. In the same 1990, Okocha went on holiday to West Germany, the country that had just won the 1990 FIFA World Cup, so he could watch a German league football. His friend Binebi Numa was playing in the Third Division for Borussia Neunkirchen.
One faithful morning, Okocha accompanied Numa to training, where he was asked to join in. The Neunkirchen coach was impressed with Okocha’s skills and invited him back the next day before offering him a contract. A year later, he joined 1. FC Saarbrücken. He stayed there for two seasons before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt where he scored one of the best goals of his career against Oliver Kahn.
