WATCH: Super Eagles icon Austin Okocha’s hit song that peaked at number 4 on the German rap chart

The retired Nigerian worldwide tried his palms at making music earlier than happening to take pleasure in a legendary profession in soccer

Tremendous Eagles legend Austin JJ Okocha will all the time be remembered as one of many biggest footballers from Africa, following his exploits in Germany, Turkey, France, England, and Qatar.

Within the early days of his profession, nevertheless, Austin Okocha believed he was as gifted with a microphone within the studio as he was with a ball between his ft.

Okocha arrived in Germany as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in 1990 and the teenager had no drawback making his influence felt on the soccer pitch.

It took the midfield maestro solely two years to maneuver from the German Third Division taking part in for Borussia Neunkirchen to the Bundesliga representing Eintracht Frankfurt.

Along with his soccer profession on the quick lane, Okocha entered the studio in 1994 to supply his first tune. 

Titled ‘I I Am Am JJ‘, the only is a three-minute-twenty-second-long, instrument-heavy tune produced in Frankfurt by Eurodance.

Okocha rapped fully in English, danced, and performed the ball round, generally with some youngsters, as singers backed him up with a pleasant melody.

Nonetheless, the tune was surprisingly well-liked among the many mostly-German viewers, reaching number four on that nation’s rap chart.

Nonetheless, the delicate success the tune loved didn’t encourage Okocha to return to the studio to make one other or pursue a profession in music. Soccer received.

Okocha’s soccer legacy

It isn’t tough to see why Okocha selected soccer over music.

In the identical yr he launched ‘I Am JJ’, Okocha lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with the Tremendous Eagles and featured prominently as Nigeria certified for and made it to the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup.

Two years later, Okocha was a key member of the Nigeria U23 workforce that received Africa’s first soccer gold medal on the Olympic Video games.

After leaving Frankfurt, Okocha went on to play for Fenerbahce, PSG, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC, and Hull Metropolis, throughout which period he sealed his place among the many continent’s greatest-ever gamers.

Okocha retired from energetic soccer in 2008 ending a profitable, near-two-decade-long profession throughout which he was named BBC African Footballer of the 12 months twice.