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Tag: Okocha

  • Okocha inspires Wolves

    Okocha inspires Wolves

    Former Nigeria captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has been identified as one of the driving forces behind the impressive run of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Warri Wolves this season.

    Wolves are the only Nigerian club still in the running for continental success this season.

    Victories over RC Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso), FC Dedebit (Ethiopia) and FK Étanchéité (Congo DR) have seen Wolves reach the play-off rounds of the competition.

    They will now face Congo DR club, AC Leopards for the right to play in the group stages of the competition and Wolves’ captain, Goodluck Onamado has now identified Okocha’s contributions as one of the positive influences to the clubs positive run thus far.

    “Jay Jay has been great to us. Since he became the Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, he has not stopped helping us, the players.

    “He encourages us all the time, tells us to play for our country and plan for life after football,” Onamado told supersport.com.

    Onamado’s position was buttressed by the club’s head coach, Paul Aigbogun.

    “I was with Okocha in the UK for an NFF programme recently and I can tell you that he’s a top, top man.

    “He’s held in great esteem by even men like (Arsenal manager), Arsene Wenger because he’s a great world star.

    “Okocha regularly takes time to speak to the boys and it has really encouraged them a great deal.

    “Hopefully, this will help us in becoming the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Confederation Cup this season,” he said.

  • Okocha expresses fear over who swears in Wike

    Okocha expresses fear over who swears in Wike

    Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) OCJ Okocha has expressed concern over the absence of a Chief Judge who will swear in Rivers State Governor-elect Nyesom Wike.

    Okocha said the constitution empowers only the Chief Judge of a State, the President of a Customary Court of Appeal and a Grand Khadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal to administer oath of office on a governor-elect before he can legally perform the functions of a governor.

    Okocha, who spoke yesterday on a radio interview monitored in Port Harcourt, said Rivers State may be in for a constitutional crisis on May 29 if Governor Rotimi Amaechi does not appoint an acting Chief Judge.

    He said: “Any of these three can administer the oath. For us, it is usual that it is the Chief Judge of Rivers State. We don’t have a Chief Judge, neither do we have an acting Chief Judge. We also do not have a President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

    “If these things remain as they are now, there may be constitutional crisis. Right now that office is vacant so is the office of President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Rivers State and we are facing this looming, as you say, constitutional crisis.

    “Well, I hope and believe that reason will prevail and the governor will see it fit to do what is needful to ensure he appoints the appropriate person as stipulated in the constitution as acting Chief Judge so that at least, we can have our new governor sworn-in by the acting Chief Judge so appointed,” Okocha said.

    Justice Lambo Akanbi of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt last year ruled that the National Judicial Council (NJC) cannot force the governor to accept whoever it recommends to him for appointment as Chief Judge.

    Justice Akanbi also said that the decision of the NJC to prefer Justice Daisy Okocha and disqualify Justice Peter Agumagu was wrong, null and void.

    Dissatisfied with this decision, Justice Okocha approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the decision and till now, the matter is still undecided.

  • Okocha hails capacity- enhancing trip to UK

    Okocha hails capacity- enhancing trip to UK

    Nigeria legend Jay- Jay Okocha has commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for organising a nine–day capacity-building programme in the United Kingdom for a number of coaches and ex-internationals.

    The new chairman of the Delta State Football Association, who played for Nigeria at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, told thenff.com at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, that the exercise will be hugely beneficial to Nigeria’s football development.

    “The football fraternity in Nigeria should applaud the move by the NFF to enhance the capacity of these persons in the interest of Nigerian football. To the best of my knowledge, we have never had anything like this.

    “Everyone should praise the NFF for this. I see Coach Amodu, Kanu, Yisa Sofoluwe, Dahiru (Sadi), Ann (Chiejine) and Florence (Omagbemi). This is wonderful. I believe what we are going to learn will be very useful for our country’s football.”

     

  • Okocha, Kanu, Amodu, others off to London

    Okocha, Kanu, Amodu, others off to London

    • As Taleveras redeems pledge

    The trip of the first batch of  highly–qualified Nigerians for match reading and backroom analysis technique programme in the United Kingdom is assured, as sponsors Taleveras Foundation on Monday released the cheque for the amount of money to cover the trip and the programme.

    Chief Executive Officer of Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi said on Monday in Abuja that his organisation was extremely proud to be involved in a process meant to facilitate the rapid development of Nigeria football.

    “We are doing this based on our belief that the potential is there for Nigeria football to be much better than what it is now, and everyone who has something to offer should come forward and be counted.

    “Taleveras Foundation is excited to be involved in this programme that will see the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Jay –Jay Okocha, Coach Amodu Shaibu, Garba Lawal and Florence Omagbemi improved themselves in order to be able to deliver positive impact on Nigeria football in the very near future,” he said.

    NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, just back from CAF duties at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, praised Taleveras Foundation for the organisation’s professionalism, integrity and keen interest in the development of football in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

    “I was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, but I was not happy that the Super Eagles were not there to defend their title. The capacity building programme in the United Kingdom is one of the plans the present NFF Executive Committee has in place to reposition Nigeria football.

    “For me, and other members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, Nigeria must never again fail to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. I like to commend Taleveras Foundation for redeeming their pledge. I have been reliably informed that most of the persons listed for the trip have already secured entry visas into United Kingdom.”

    Officials reliably informed that the first batch will depart Nigeria for the United Kingdom on 25th February. Among those listed are former National Team Captains Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal and Yisa Sofoluwe, Coaches Amodu Shaibu, Sam John Obuh, Isa Ladan Bosso, Salisu Yusuf and Kelechi Emeteole, Edema Fuludu, Paul Aigbogun, Dahiru Sadi, Ann Chiejine, Siji Lagunju, David Ngodigha, Florence Omagbemi and Garba Musa.

  • GLO-CAF Awards: Okocha, Kanu lead ex-internationals to Gala Night

    GLO-CAF Awards: Okocha, Kanu lead ex-internationals to Gala Night

    Ex-internationals and former Super Eagles Captains, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo will be among the generation of old Super Eagles’ players who will attend the 2014 Glo-CAF Awards gala night coming up on 8th January in Lagos, Nigeria.

    In a statement from the organisers of the awards, Globacom, Okocha and two former African Footballers of the Year, Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Nosa Ikpeba, are expected to grace the awards aptly labelled the ‘Oscars’ of African football.

    It is believed that their presence at the event would spur younger football players to greater heights.

    Okocha distinguished himself playing with Einthract Frankfurt FC of Germany, Fernabache of Turkey, Paris St Germain of France and Bolton Wanderers of England.  He is noted for his flamboyant skills and dribbles on the pitch. A two-time winner of the BBC African Player of the Year, he was honoured with the Legends Award along with Ex-Moroccan International Mustapha Hadji at the 2011 Glo-CAF Awards.  He wore many caps for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles before he retired about eight years ago.

    Similarly, Ikpeba, a former player of Monaco FC, popularly known as ‘Prince of Monaco’ played for the France-based team for many years before moving to Borussia Dortmund FC in Germany. He was also in Blgium where he played for Standard Liege.  He won the African Footballer of the Year Award in 1997.

    Ex-international, Kanu Nwankwo began his football exploits as a  striker in Ajax of Amsterdam and later moved to Inter Milan, Arsenal and Portsmouth amonst others. Nwankwo is rated as Nigeria’s most successful player and he earned global acclaim for his infinite capacity to score memorable goals. He won the African Footballer of the Year Award twice in 1996 and 1999.

    He captained the Nigerian senior national team, Super Eagles for many years before retiring from active football. He was the captain of the Atlanta Olympics-winning U-23 team in 1996.  He established the Kanu Nwankwo Heart Foundation which has assisted a number of young children across Africa with heart challenges.

    The three ex-Nigerian internationals will lead other Super Eagles players to the event where they will have the opportunity to reminisce on their Super Eagles days, as well as meet current and ex-internationals from different parts of Africa.

    The 2014 Glo-CAF Awards will hold at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos on 8th January, 2015. CAF released the final list of three shortlisted players last week for the African Player of the Year awards.

    They are Nigerian Vincent Enyeama who currently plays for Lille in France, three-time African Player of the Year and Manchester City Midfielder, Yaya Toure, and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang currently playing for Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

  • Okocha tips Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire for 2015 AFCON title

    Okocha tips Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire for 2015 AFCON title

    Former Super Eagles Captain Austin Okocha has revealed his top picks for next year’s AFCON title in Equatorial Guinea.

    The former PSG and Bolton Wanderers midfield maestro opined that he expects no surprises in next year’s finals but noted that the tournament will be tough.

    ‘’Algeria has a strong chance of passing in the quarterfinals. I would say that Algeria has the opportunity to win the African Cup. We saw the face that the team of Algeria presented at the last World Cup,’’ he told La Buteur.

    The Desert Foxes were impressive at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil and perhaps gave Africa its best representation though they exited the competition at the same the Super Eagles of Nigeria did. It was the first time that the country qualified for the round of 16 and it is expected that the team expresses the same determination, finesse and balance in Equatorial Guinea.

    Okocha also mentioned the Les Elephants of Ivory Coast as possible winners of the bi-annual continental competition.

    ‘Ivory Coast, for some time, is one of the favourites. The Ivoirians have a team of talented players. I do not understand how they manage to miss each time at CAN. Maybe 2015 will be good for them.’

  • Okocha questions Nigeria players’ passion

    Okocha questions Nigeria players’ passion

    The former Super Eagles star has told Goal that the current national crop need to convince the public that they care about playing for their national team

    Jay-Jay Okocha says that questions will be asked about the passion of Nigeria’s players following their exit from the Africa Cup of Nations.

    The reigning champions failed to qualify for the 2015 finals after drawing 2-2 with South Africa in Uyo on Wednesday, marking a second exit before the tournament proper in three editions.

    And while Stephen Keshi’s future has already been called into question, Okocha believes the players have to take some of the responsibility too.

    “I think, to be honest, we will always produce talented players. But perhaps the question is whether they have the same passion that they used to have,” Okocha told Goal. “People are pressuring them about that, you know, because sometimes it seems as if they don’t really care much about the result.”

    Wednesday’s result combined with Congo’s 1-0 win in Sudan to extinguish Nigeria’s final hopes, but the 41-year-old said they had made it very difficult for themselves earlier in the campaign.

    “Of course it was down to our bad spot, even if we were still in with a chance,” he added. “I think sometimes players must have a wake-up call before they realise they are back in African football. They left themselves get into a difficult position.”

    Ironically, Okocha – who won 75 caps for his country – believes the Super Eagles could have gone on to perform very well again in the finals in Equatorial Guinea had the qualified amongst the final 16 teams.

    “I have no doubt that had we managed to qualify we would have had a good tournament, because you have to play really well once it comes to the tournament itself. The qualifiers are sometimes a bit tricky here in Africa, so I think if they had qualified they would have had a good tournament.”

    Okocha is currently acting as an ambassador for Western Union’s ‘Pass for School’ programme which will see funding made towards better education every time somebody posts an old photograph of themselves in a childhood sports photo to Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #PassForSchool.

    He explained: “It is a great initiative, especially since it helps the less privileged children because we all know how vital education is. So I’m delighted to be a part of it.”

  • Okocha commiserates with South Africans over Meyiwa’s death

    Okocha commiserates with South Africans over Meyiwa’s death

    Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha, has commiserated with the family of Senzo Meyiwa and other South Africans over the death of the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper.

    The shot – stopper was murdered at the home of his girlfriend, Kelly Khumalo, on Sunday, 24 hours after featuring in a game between Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

    “Such a sad and disheartening news on the South African goal keeper’s death. My heart goes to the family and friends and the country,” allnigeriasoccer.com quoted Okocha as saying on his Twitter handle.

    Before his death, Meyiwa made six international appearances for South Africa, with one of the caps earned against Nigeria in an African Cup of Nations qualifying fixture in September.

    Born in Durban on September 24, 1987, he played for Orlando Pirates throughout his career.

  • AFCON: Nigerian football is dead – Okocha

    AFCON: Nigerian football is dead – Okocha

    Former Nigeria captain, Austin Okocha, on Saturday said football in the country is “long dead and gone” and has refused to blame the Super Eagles or coach Stephen Keshi for the team 0-1 defeat to Sudan in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Goal reports.

    A ferocious header by striker Bakri Abd Elgadir in the closing stages of the first half flew past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and put the hosts ahead of the African champions.

    The result means Nigeria now walk a tight rope towards qualifying for the biennial African football showpiece billed for Morocco in 2015.

    Okocha leapt to the defence of the current crop of players and the coach, insisting the nation’s game is failing immensely.

    “Anyone that blames Keshi or the boys is short sighted. Our football is long dead and gone. This is just the confirmation” Goal quoted Okocha as saying on his Twitter handle.

     

  • Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch

    Okocha rips into Esuene Stadium pitch

    ormer Nigeria national team captain Austin Okocha is not impressed with the quality of the playing surface at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

    The Super Eagles play their home games at the stadium and many have criticised the pitch, particularly after the African champions’ 2-3 defeat to Congo in a 2015 African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier last Saturday.

    Okocha, who scored 14 goals in 75 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1993 and 2006, watched Nigeria’s game against South Africa in Cape Town on Wednesday and was quick to make comparisons with what he saw in Calabar.

    “(Nigeria versus South Africa). Beautiful compared to the Calabar match. How green grass can transform (and) beautify a match. Also allows players to express themselves,” Jay Jay wrote on Twitter via his account @IAmOkocha.

    Okocha’s comments about the pitch have not gone down well with the Cross River State government, owners of the U.J. Esuene Stadium.

    Commissioner for Sports Patrick Ugbe said the pitch in Calabar is not in bad shape.

    “The pitch is in good condition. It is a work in progress. We are in the process of resodding the pitch,” Ugbe told supersport.com.

    He also revealed that the Cross River State government only allowed the Super Eagles to play on the pitch against Congo “in the interest of the nation”.

    “It was in the interest of the nation that we allowed the match to be played on that pitch in the first place because we are obviously working on it.

    “The coaches (of Nigeria and Congo) saw the pitch before the match and they expressed satisfaction with the state of the pitch so I don’t know what the issue is all of a sudden”.