Nigerian legend Okocha prefers watching European League to Nigeria Premier League

By Wale Mustapha

African football icon, Austin Okocha has admitted he would prefer to watch European football than to see a live Nigerian football league due to class in professionalism, packaging and quality.

On Friday in Nairobi, Kenya during English Premier League Trophy Tour on Friday noted that African football, especially his country Nigeria need to upgrade its organization standard to attract quality talents and more sponsors.

The football legend tasked African countries to take a cue from other developed countries on how to run a professional league that attracts corporate partners in droves.

“I don’t think I’d watch the Nigerian league if there is a Premier League match on the television, that is if I am being honest, because the Premier League is more attractive,” Okocha told media.

“We need to go back to the drawing board and give ourselves time and put something together that will make our leagues attractive,” Okocha said.

Okocha who was a member of Nigeria team that won the 1994 African Cup of Nations AFCON title used the South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, PSL and leagues in the North African as evidence that African countries can develop to become more professional and attractive leagues.

“Our people will fall in love with something that is attractive and well-packaged. I can take the example of South Africa, the locals there attend matches in the stadium because the league is attractive.

“There are also the North African countries where the locals go out and watch the matches. I think sometimes we need to copy the leagues abroad, forget our ego and humble ourselves and start from scratch again.

“We need a long-term plan to organize our leagues and make them attractive, it is not rocket science,” the former PSG and Bolton Wanderers’ midfielder added.