THE MAGIC OF JAY-JAY OKOCHA

ROBERT PRENDERGAST LOOKS BACK AT THE CAREER OF THE FORMER BOLTON WANDERERS AND NIGERIA STAR...

- ROBERT PRENDERGAST

I LOOK at my copy of the Match Magazine Annual 2005. On the front cover, I see a host of legendary footballing figures. David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos… someone in a Bolton shirt? Is that a printing mistake?

It is not. It’s Jay-Jay Okocha. Every time I type that, my computer tells me to delete the repeated word. But a machine can’t begin to understand.

Bolton was booming in the early 2000s. Local famous figures were appearing on our TV screens - Peter Kay, Amir Khan and Warburtons bakery.

All would love to fight for the title of Bolton’s biggest star. But it was never Peter Kay Kay. Okocha is the one so good they named him twice.

As the legend turns 50 later this year, we just need to remember his performances.

His career started at Enugu Rangers, one of the oldest clubs in Nigeria.

Most of his compatriots were picked up by teams in France or Holland but Jay Jay’s ambition took him to Germany. He wanted to see German football as they had just won the World Cup in 1990.

He went to watch his friend play in Germany and got picked up himself. He joined Third Division side Borussia Neunkirchen and dazzled for a year. Following Neunkirchen’s relegation and new-found fame in Germany, he moved to Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. This is where he skyrocketed to immortality with his showstopping goal against Karlsruher, twice beating future Germany No.1 keeper Oliver Kahn in the process.

It is one of those gifts that remind us why we watch football and a goal that you can watch over and over again.