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- Jay Jay Okocha has recounted how he transformed his career when he traveled to Germany on a visiting visa in 1990
- He disclosed that it was his elder brother who was originally invited for trials, but he had to take advantage
- The mercurial midfielder starting his youth career at Enugu Rangers, before joining German club Borussia Neunkirchen
Nigerian football legend Jay Jay Okocha has narrated how he went to Germany on a visiting visa, using the opportunity to turnaround his career.
The attacking midfielder had his youth career at Enugu Rangers before moving to Europe in 1990 when he signed for Borussia Neunkirchen.
Okocha, who is one of the greatest African players of all time, stated that he took advantage of his visit to go on trials.
Source: Getty Images
In a recent chat, the mercurial midfielder disclosed that it was his older brother who was originally invited to Germany for the trials. He said, in a viral video:
“The story is my senior brother (Emmanuel Okocha) was playing for the national team. So when he was playing for under 20 he had this friend that used to play for this third division club.
“So my brother got invited for trials but he couldn’t go, so I got a visiting visa and went to that club with the opportunity that was given to him.
“I went and met the coach and told him that I’m junior brother from the player they are expecting but he can’t come. I mean that was how my journey started in 1990. It was a period maybe the most important time of my life.”
Footballers from the African continent aim to secure deals in Europe in a bid to make fortunes from the sport.
Okocha added that he saw the period as a moment that could change his life, and he had to grab the opportunity. He added:
“I have to end the right to better my life and that was the reason why I left Nigeria, not because I was comfortable.
“And I was scouted or went through academy or whatever. I went to Germany even though it wasn’t holiday but at back of my mind I went to try and see if I can get an opportunity to change my life.
“I went there legally but on visiting visa and then then I went on trials. It was the third division club.”
Source: Getty Images
Okocha went on to play for a number of top clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers, Qatar SC and Hull City before he announced retirement in 2008, per Daily Post.
Infantino hails Okocha at 52
Legit.ng earlier reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a special birthday message to Nigerian football legend Jay Jay Okocha, as he celebrated his 52nd birthday on August 14.
Infantino acknowledged the birthday boy as one of the greatest footballers to ever emerge from the African continent, thanking him for his contributions on and off the pitch in what could be described as a special tribute.
Source: Legit.ng
