Former Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, spoke to fifa.com when he visited France to feature in the 12 Match Against Poverty, organised by Zinnedine Zidane and Ronaldo de Lima and he spoke about his desire to become the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) someday.
What does it mean to you to take part in a charity match like this?
This event means a lot to me. It’s an opportunity for us footballers, who’ve enjoyed all the advantages life has to offer, to give something back to people in need. It’s a great and beautiful initiative.
How much pleasure do you get from being able to play again in front of a large crowd?
A lot. It’s a special feeling and it’s something you miss. It’s wonderful to have the chance to relive it all again, to run and play, to express yourself on the pitch, and all without any pressure on you either. I was very excited about it.
What’s your happiest memory of your career as a player?
I’ve got quite a few and it’s impossible for me to pick out one in particular. Every second I’ve spent on the pitch is a good memory for me, every moment when I’ve been able to express myself with the ball. I enjoyed every single moment of my footballing career, for every club I played with. I’ve got nothing but good memories.
You played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Hull City during your career. Is there one club that’s especially close to your heart?
Yes, there is one that is particularly important to me… just don’t expect me to tell you who it is (laughs)! I don’t want to disappoint the other clubs, who also mean a lot to me. I’m keeping my secret.
And do you have a favourite goal out of all the ones you scored?
Yes, the one I got for Frankfurt against Karlsruhe in 1993 stands out a little for me. I was very young and I hadn’t made a name for myself yet. Klaus Toppmoller was my coach at the time and he started me on the bench for that game, which I wasn’t especially pleased about. We were 2-1 up when he finally decided to put me on. We were under pressure and my job was to keep the ball, but we put a break together and I suddenly found myself in the opposition penalty box with four or five defenders facing me. I just dribbled with the ball, going one way and then the next before putting the ball past the keeper, who was none other than Oliver Kahn.
That goal said a lot about how skillful you were, but do you feel you missed out on achieving something big in your career?
Yes, I feel like that about Nigeria, especially the 1994 World Cup. I really think we could have sprung a surprise, but at the time we didn’t know just how good we were. It was our first world finals and we settled for that. Looking back, though, I’m convinced we had the potential to shock the whole world.
What does football mean in Nigeria?
It’s a religion in my country. It unites the whole country as one. If the football goes well, then everything goes well. It’s more than a game, more than a sport. It’s part of our culture.
What’s your view on the state of the game in Nigeria?
You can’t be completely satisfied with the situation at the moment. We’re lacking a bit of consistency, but there’s plenty of work being done at the top. We’ve been through some tough times, but the good thing is that we’re a big country with a lot of talented players. We just need to get the right structures in place so that the light can shine for good.
And what about African football; do you think African teams are closing the gap on the big European and South American sides?
I think so, but the problem is that we still settle for very little. We celebrate a World Cup quarter-final place when it’s not enough. You have to go further. The gap has closed a lot, though. African teams are getting harder and harder to beat, and that’s a fact.
Who’s the best African player in the game right now?
I’d say Yaya Toure. He’s the most consistent performer and then there’s Jay-Jay of course (laughs)!
Nigeria won the last FIFA U-17 World Cup and their U-20 side are the reigning African champions in the age group. Are we seeing the emergence of another golden generation?
I think so, but we have to make sure that these youngsters can kick on. If we’re going to do that, we must give them support and encouragement. If we don’t give them the right backing, then it’s just going to be the same old story. We have youth teams that have shone in the past but which haven’t been able to push on at senior level.
You see yourself as the presidential type, then?
Why not? Yes. In fact, I’ve just been named the chairman of the Delta State Football Association, which I’m delighted about. Who knows what the future has in store, though?
카이센 윈즈
Zhu Houzhao는 “무슨 일이 있어도 그녀가 옳습니다. 말할 수 없어서 다시 고소했습니다.”
리액툰즈
Zhou Juren과 Chen Juren은 더 이상 이것들을 들을 기분이 아니었다.
골드 킹
우아하고 섬세한 얼굴을 가진이 밝은 피부의 여성은 “소녀 Liang Ruying”이라고 말했습니다.
슈가 러쉬
Weng과 그의 사위는 Zhu Houzhao에 대한 문제를 언급하지 않기 위해 최선을 다하기 시작한 것 같습니다.
슬롯 무료 게임
류동 가족은 답답한 표정으로 왕부시를 바라보며 “부족한 게 아니라 변한 건 하늘이다”라고 말했다.
무료 슬롯 사이트
안나 공주는 세상의 쓰레기인 왕부시와 가까워지려고 미친 듯이 움직인다.
79 슬롯
사원의 다른 씨족 구성원들과 중요한 신하들은 모두 침묵을 지켰고, 차가운 눈으로 이 모든 것을 지켜보았습니다.나머지 관리들은 아래에서 일어난 일을 볼 수 없었지만 모두 분개하며 Xiao Jing을 바라 보았습니다.
에그슬롯
전에는 사고 싶지 않은 것을 샀는데 불확실할 때 샀습니다.
999 슬롯
“닥쳐!” Zhang Heling은 Zhang Yanling에게 화를 내며 소리 쳤습니다. “뻔뻔한 것!”
카지노 슬롯 머신
만 가구에 주어지는 보상은 분명히 선의의 홍지 황제입니다.
에그벳슬롯
그러나 지금 그는 여기 있고 Fang Jifan의 지식과 행동의 통일이라는 네 단어를 들었습니다.
https://king-wifi.win/wiki/Shattered_No_More_The_Ultimate_Guide_to_Auto_Glass_Replacement
https://yogaasanas.science/wiki/Shattered_No_More_The_Ultimate_Guide_to_Auto_Glass_Replacement
넷마블 토토
이 순간 그는 웃고 있었지만 그의 얼굴은 편안했습니다.
토토 메이저 사이트
이 사람은 양심에 정말 무지하고 할 수 있습니다.
온라인 슬롯 게임 추천
“그래.” 조석천은 당황했지만 이 작은 관리가 누구인지 기억나지 않았다.
카지노 슬롯
Zhu Houzhao와 Fang Jifan은 멈추지 않고 돌진했습니다.
토토 사이트 검증
Wang Shouren은 한 입 가득 오래된 피를 뿜어 내며 불화를 심었습니다.
배팅 룸
그런 기적적인 강장제는 정말 들어 본 적이 없습니다.
자이언트 슬롯
Fang Jifan은 얼굴을 숙였습니다. “전하, 저쪽으로 돌아와야합니다.”
블랙 맘바
그는 다음에 그에게 얼마나 많은 문제가 닥칠지 결코 알지 못했습니다.
토토 보증 업체
껌의 기원을 통제하는 사람은 막대한 금과 은을 자신의 금고로 가져올 수 있습니다.
슈가 슬롯
Fang Jifan은 “나와 내 동생이 그런 운명을 겪었는지 몰랐다”고 말했다.
슬롯 머신 사이트
지금은 괜찮은데 망할 일본해적 때문에 더 이상 바다에 가지 않는다.
라이징 슬롯
모든 사람의 눈이 흐려졌고 여전히 무슨 일이 일어나고 있는지 이해하지 못했습니다.