Okocha outlines ambition

Apart from losing the Nations cup trophy to the hosts Tunisia, February 2004 is a month everyone would dream to be a Jay Jay Okocha. He had a memorable CAN 2004 by all standards. Winning the MVP award, emerging as the top scorer and carting home a glittering silver trophy for scoring the 1000th goal of the nations cup only add to his bronze medal with Nigeria. The Bolton emperor spoke with Nigeriasports.com about the tournament, Bolton, the future and his family.

Nigeriasports.com: How is life with Jay Jay after Tunisia 2004?

Okocha: Highly demanding, sweet and disappointing but one cannot question God’s ultimate reward at this point. I won everything that was important in Tunisia except the biggest (The cup) but I was still contented. The carling cup defeat to Middlesbrough just dampened my moral but I am hoping to take Bolton to a greater height. It’s been a difficult season but I am doing my best likewise my team mates to make the club proud.

Nigeriasports.com: It may have come and gone, but a lot of people believe that the nations cup was a successful one for you as a person?

Okocha: Not at all, my goal was to be a winner with my country not for myself. It’s five weeks after the nations cup but it keeps coming back to me that we didn’t deserve to lose in that semi finals. I’ve lost a nations cup final on penalties so I know what it was like to lose again, but on a positive side I think we surprised everyone getting to that stage and we suddenly conceived the attitude that the cup will be ours after beating Cameroon but things don’t work like that in life.

Nigeriasports.com: The tournament is gone but what are your memories of the outcome?

Okocha: It is gone for sure but the truth is I always want to be a winner in all that I do but winning the bronze is better than nothing, I had so many things to do down there in England but I came here for the love of Nigeria and to win something for the millions of people back home. That never happened and I can’t change the situation, by and large I think we did well.

Nigeriasports.com: Any special message to Nigerians on the fall outs of the nations cup?

Okocha: I want everyone to know that there are better days ahead and we are spurred to make them happy in our subsequent outings. They should also know I felt bad because I always want to become first in all I do. People don’t remember the second or third placed team in any competition. People still talk about us winning in 1994 and that is ten years ago. For me I am quite disappointed but in life you do not get all that you wish for, other people also have the rights to smile too and you cannot get that feelings every time.

Nigeriasports.com: Your impression of the young players?

Okocha: I am happy that the future looks bright for Nigerian football thanks to the discovery of youngsters like Osaze, Olofinjana and Enakhire. It is a good thing that they are exposed to the pressure of international football and that will go a long way in improving them.

Nigeriasports.com: The coaches and their feat?

Okocha: I think they have done a great job, by keeping us together in good spirit. They’ve motivated us and we never had any problems in camp. I think kudos should go to them.

Nigeriasports.com: After every competition there is the fear of sacking a losing coach, despite the comment of the president over Chukwu there’s clamour for a foreigner, as the skipper of the team, what is your own take?

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Okocha: If they change this technical crew, same thing will keep on happening.

Nigeriasports.com: what is this same thing?

Okocha: Of us not wining anything anymore, we keep starting afresh all the time, from the scratch all the time; I am tired of hearing that. I think the NFA should allow them continue. They keep saying we are rebuilding and rebuilding but after so many years we are yet to finish that process. With good support we can execute the world cup qualifiers and the tournament itself with this present crew.

Nigeriasports.com: Are you saying Nigeria should drop the idea of employing a foreign coach?

Okocha: Whatever I say we not change anything because I do not run our football. We were logged in the idea of bringing a coach five months before Tunisia but at the end of the day we didn’t. This same crew with short planning and limited resources still won bronze. I think a foreign coach without the support of the NFA, Nigerians, Players and the Press will not succeed. I just think we need continuity with the little success and promises we showed at the nations cup.

Nigeriasports.com: Would you describe Tunisia 2004 as the worst tournament you have played?

Okocha: Not at all, it has to be the Korea/Japan world cup in 2002; I felt that we disgraced ourselves not qualifying from that group.

Nigeriasports.com: You’ve scored so many goals as a midfielder but a lot of people describe your goal against Kalsuhre in the bundesliga as your best. Personally which one would you desribe your best goal?

With Wife Nkechi at a Fifa ceremony in London.

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Okocha: I have scored great ones at different time and moment but everyone keeps hammering on that goal. I remember that day I was on the bench and I wasn’t quite happy about it and knew I had to do something special to get my place back in the team. I didn’t even want to hold the ball that long but I keep seeing people in front of me and I slot the ball in when I thought it was the right moment to shoot. It was not planned, it just happened like that.

Nigeriasports.com: Do you remember that current German number one; Oliver Kahn was in goal that day?

Okocha: It was Oliver Kahn for sure and I think once or twice after that we saw each other but I worried why people started revisiting that scene and I only smile and say things like that don’t happen everyday.

Nigeriasports.com: Kahn described it as his worst moment ever?

Okocha: Too bad for him that he was criticized after that in Germany but see what he has become and made for himself a decade after that? I am happy he has moved on with life.

Nigeriasports.com: The African footballer of the year award for 2003 is only in April; do you think your time has come to be crowned?

Okocha: I hope so and pray I am voted but life’s all about time and I think my time to win is now.

Nigeriasports.com: And if otherwise?

Okocha: I will only accept and resign to fate. Life apparently moves on.

Nigeriasports.com: How would you describe yourself?

Okocha: A gentle and simple football with the love of people in heart. The most important thing to me is my wife and my kids and I am someone who believe God has lifted him and who appreciate his goodness. I think I have reaped so much from my own toil and some undeserved favours from God but all the glory still go back to him.

Nigeriasports.com: You’ve been around for over a decade, after football how do you want to be remembered?

Okocha: As someone God blessed and one who changed the face of Nigerian football, but more importantly as Austin Okocha that lived his life in a positive manner. I think with that even after I am no more, my children will be proud that their father left a great legacy and name behind.

Nigeriasports.com: We at Nigeriasports.com wish you all the best today and always.

Okocha: Thanks and stay blessed.