“He wasn’t a show-off, he was a showman” – Shreeves hails Okocha as a ‘stand out’ African player

The Tremendous Eagles icon was Africa’s first and finest soccer entertainer, who performed for Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bolton Wanderers, amongst others. 

A veteran reporter, Geoff Shreeves, has showered encomiums on Tremendous Eagles legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha. 

Shreeves, who joined Sky Sports activities in 1992, the primary season of the Premier League, has singled out Okocha as probably the most stand-out gamers from Africa.

The time Okocha spent at Bolton, which began in 2002 when he joined Sam Allardyce’s battling Wanderers, is nothing wanting legendary.

The then-outstanding Tremendous Eagles star was an enormous factor for Les Parisiens, fascinating the group along with his talent and class.

Recall that Okocha obtained the liberty and accountability that high groups have been hesitant to supply him beneath Allardyce.

He welcomed each and skim the sport much more completely and shortly than his teammates.

The previous PSG midfielder valued refined particulars, little dragbacks, and stepovers that have been aesthetic.

Jay-Jay Okocha free-kick for Bolton vs Aston Villa in 2004, with Peter Brackley commentary ??⚽️ pic.twitter.com/FEraD8Qu0g

— James Nalton (@JDNalton) April 25, 2020

Except for incomes a stable repute within the German Bundesliga for Frankfurt, the place he scored 18 objectives, and within the home league for PSG, the place he scored 12 objectives, the Tremendous Eagles hero additionally scored 14 objectives. He contributed 11 assists in 124 outings for Bolton.

He did, nonetheless, help the Whites that season in avoiding relegation.

Talking on Supersport TV, Shreeves asserts that the Nigerian was one of many most interesting African gamers he had witnessed within the league.

“We’ve had a lot wonderful expertise come to the Premier League, gamers from the African continent”. he mentioned.

In accordance with Shreeves, Okocha’s switch from the French league to Bolton, who have been within the relegation zone, was nonetheless a shock to everybody.

“I might say Jay Jay Okocha when he first arrived. I imply, how Sam persuaded him to signal for Bolton, I do not know, however what we have been speaking about simply now’s that he wasn’t afraid, off the cuff, of the trickery throughout video games.”

Alongside along with his lavish reward for the Legend, he added:

“He wasn’t a show-off. He was a showman, yeah, and there’s a definite distinction precisely, so I’ll in all probability say he [Okocha] was a incredible footballer, bodily straight, and greater than only a present get together.”

After 4 seasons with the Trotters, the playmaker moved to Qatar for a season earlier than being grabbed on a free switch by Hull Metropolis.