English newspaper, Daily Mail, once named Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha as the 11th Premier League’s most beautiful players to watch whilst adding his ‘swagger and style to Sam Allardyce’s industrious’ Bolton FC. Some pundits say that his “exquisite level of unorthodox technique has yet to be replicated in the Premier League”, while others claim that Okocha had a “propensity to entertain, to capture lightning and unleash it on his opponents with the magic in his boots”. Jay Jay Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers from Ligue 1 side, Paris Saint- Germain in 2002, spending four years with the Lancashire outfit, making 124 appearances, 14 goals and 11 assists, and winning the prestigious Player of the Month award in November 2003. As a cult hero of the Premier League era who didn’t dive, wasn’t in the news for the wrong reasons, and simply had ‘it’ — ‘the stuff’, the swagger, the confidence to enjoy football on his terms, he would forever be remembered for his silky skills and swashbuckling panache with the ball as well as his influence in making sure that Bolton got European qualification and was never relegated during his sojourn in the English Premier League. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Jay-Jay as he is fondly called spoke about the Premier League Trophy on a tour across Nigeria, courtesy MultiChoice Nigeria, why we need to promote our local leagues, Excerpts
The Premier League trophy is currently touring Nigeria courtesy MultiChoice Nigeria and you are accompanying it, given your status as a Nigerian and Premier League legend. How do you feel?
I feel very privileged to be part of this trophy tour thanks to MultiChoice and DStv. I really feel very honoured and great because this is a rare moment. People don’t realise that it is only a few people that have been opportune to lift this trophy. During my time in Bolten, I never had the opportunity so for me, it is a special moment
In 2002, Paris Saint-Germain splashed £10m to make you Africa’s most expensive ever player then. And four years down, you moved to Bolton FC on a free transfer? Why did you choose Bolton?
I joined Bolten in 2002 and I wanted to play in the premier league and Bolten offered me that opportunity at that time, which was why I signed for Bolten.
You are perhaps the only Nigerian that has captained a PL side, could you provide some insights into some of the things you had to do to keep the boys on track and maintain harmony in the dressing room?
It’s all about you leading by example and making sure everyone is okay. You are like the first born of the family and you feel like you are the oldest and it comes with a huge responsibility so you have to find a way to ensure that everyone is in good spirit. You also have to lead by example and show good attitude towards training every day. It was a responsibility that I welcomed with both hands and I enjoyed every bit of it.
We have seen a drastic reduction in the number of Nigerian Players plying their trade for top teams in the PL. What do you think the problem is?
To be honest, we have failed to build on the foundation already laid and that can only come from our league back home. Even though is a bit better now but we still have a long way to go in order to produce players that can compete at that level? It’s not rocket science, we just have to ensure we put a good structure in place that will enable our youths learn the basics enough to play for those big clubs.
One thing missing in your career was your inability to win the English Premier league, given all you have done in the league. How does that make you feel?
I have no regrets that I didn’t win it. I would have been regretting my time in the EPL if I had not lived my legacy. Some people are lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time eve without playing much games, they have won it. The most important thing for me is the opportunity I had and I think I maximized my opportunity at Bolten in changing the mindset of the people from when I arrived to the time I left. Bolton was one of the relegation cubs when I got there but we took the club to another level and even had the opportunity to play for the first time in the Europa Cup. When I look at what I achieved at Bolton, I think I am a lot to be happy about. It was never in our agenda to go for the title.
You played in Turkey and Germany and in England and you have seen it all in football. In your estimation, having played and followed the EPL for over a decade, why is the EPL the most popular league in the world?
Without any doubt, it is the publicity and the money that is in the EPL now is unbelievable. They have taken it to another level and it is a league where every player now wish to play. It is also the most demanding league. The pace of the games in the EPL is something else and rightly for me, it is maybe the best league in the world.
Can you remember the chant Bolton fans had for you? How did you feel every time you heard that chant? And do you miss hearing the chant?
It feels great and it is very encouraging that makes you feel that you are doing the right thing and being appreciated.
How did you feel when it all came to an end?
I knew it was going to end one day. What I emphasized on then was to make sure I enjoyed it as much as I could. Like I said before, it must end one day and I don’t really miss it that much because I have played my part and some things don’t last forever.
SuperSport’s Let’s Play initiative which is geared at getting children out of their homes to reduce the amount of obesity and develop an outdoor experience for young children, what is you take on this initiative?
It is a wonderful initiative. I believe kids these days are spoilt with computer games and fast foods, unlike our time that you practically have to walk to everywhere you are going to and on your way, you may branch somewhere and play five-aside etc. This is a really great initiative to get them out of their comfort zone to exercise and also to do what they love doing. Kids these days have great interest in football and it is good to give them that opportunity to come and play with legends that they look up to.
You played in three world cups, and captained Nigeria on one outing. How would you describe the experience, and what advice do you have for the Super Eagles as they grace the 2018 tournament?
I am indeed very happy about it. We have been struggling for a while and for us to come out from that group, it shows that we are not too far from where we are supposed to be. I know that expectations are high in this country but you have to realize that this is a country of almost two million people, we have to xxx. I am delighted that they have qualified but at the same time, it is the time to challenge ourselves and believe that we are good enough not just to be partakers, but to make an impact.
Isn’t it ironic that your nephew, Alex Iwobi scored the only goal that sealed qualification for the global football showpiece?
There are some things you cannot change, I never thought that it would happen but I am so glad that the young man is doing so well and also that he is not regretting the fact that I convinced him to play for Nigeria, so it has worked out well in both ways so I am delighted.
What advice do you have for the Super Eagles as they head to Russia?
Nothing is impossible. It’s all about staying focused and setting the right target for yourself and trust your commitment. It’s all about playing six or seven matches and with sacrifice and belief, you can play at least five games in the tournament and we will be talking about semi-finals
Who is your favorite player in the Premier League right now??
At the moment, the person that impresses me the most is Kevin De Bruyne because of his vision, his unselfishness, and I think he is one of the reasons why Manchester City are tearing the other teams apart now.
How much has the English League changed since you were a player?
I do not think it has changed much, yes the fees have changed but the ambition is still the same and the mission is still the same, so thing have not changed much I will say.
Who were the best players you played with during your first time in English game?
Youri Djorkaeff, Ivan Campo, El Hadji Diouf – love him or hate him, he was instrumental to what we achieved then, Fernando Hierro and Hidetoshi Nakata from Japan. So we had all nationalities in one team and it was great to have these players in the team.
What were your best and worst moments playing in the EPL?
My worst moment I would say was my first season because I did not realise how tough the EPL is and I did not realise early enough that I signed for a struggling team, but then at the end of the day I will say my greatest moment in EPL was the day that we survived relegation, we survived after the last game of the season.
What was the best advice you were ever given in the game?
It’s for me to believe in myself, believe in my ability, never let anybody bring me down and keep working hard because talent is not good enough, you have to work to earn whatever you want to achieve, so hard work is key
How would you assess DStv and SuperSport’s contribution to developing the game of football in Nigeria, in view of its value offering of over 300 live games and this EPL Trophy Tour?
I think for football lovers, it is like being in dreamland, even in England they do not watch this many matches. So, it is a wonderful opportunity that has been given to us by DSTV and I can only say thank you to them because fans have developed more interest in the game now courtesy of all these television stations, the EPL is booming because of TV rights and also I can only say kudos to DSTV.
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