Encomium
+Why nobody has been able to fill the vacuum he left
Ex-Super Eagles star, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has become an ambassador for 1960Bet sports betting and gaming site.
The legendary Nigerian footballer was unveiled on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at the 1960Bet stand during the just concluded Trade Fair in TBS, Onikan, Lagos.
In a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly, the former Bolton FC of England favourite spoke on the multi-million deal, NFF crisis, Super Eagles chance of qualifying for 2015 African Cup of Nations, and why nobody has been able to fill the vacuum he left behind, not even Mikel Obi.
How does it feel to be 1960Bet ambassador?
I feel honoured because 1960Bet is a quality brand. I feel happy and highly elated to be their ambassador.
Why should I play 1960Bet or is it because of Jay Jay Okocha?
Aside the fact that Jay Jay Okocha is involved with 1960Bet, you have every opportunity to win something to better your life. A lot of billionaires have been made through lottery, and of course, the only advantage it has over others is that it pays high. It’s real and genuine. However, if you don’t buy ticket, you can’t win lottery. It is now left for you to take your chance to play lottery and win, but for the fact it’s they are genuine, it can be life changing for such person.
Considering the performances of the Super Eagles at the ongoing AFCON qualifier, what’s your assessment of the team?
I believe we still have a good team. I don’t think we would ever stop producing talents. However, I think our current players are not consistent enough. For you to be up there, you have to maintain certain level of consistency, which is what is lacking in the current Super Eagles. We don’t play as well as we can on a regular basis.
What are the chances of the Super Eagles qualifying, considering their present performance?
It is clear that we’re in a very difficult situation, but we’ve been in this situation before and we managed to bring our best out of it and hopefully, we’ll be able to do that again. Being the defending champion, it’ll be bad not to be in the next African Cup of Nations. I think we are used to getting results when we need it, especially here in Africa.
Don’t you think the fracas in the NFF will be stumbling block?
I will agree with you to a certain level because for our football to get to a certain level, we need reliable people. It’s a pity, for now, the corporate bodies are finding it difficult to trust people that are running our football. But I must tell you I have hope in this new NFF president because he’s a passionate person, he has passion for football and looking at his achievements in Delta, I have no doubt that he has got fantastic idea for Nigerian football. Hopefully, he’ll get us to where we want to be.
Why has nobody been able to fill the vacuum of the No 10 position you left behind, not even Mikel Obi?
I don’t want to sound arrogant but the truth is that there is something special about me. Sometimes you have a special players in a squad, when you lose them, it’ll take like five to 10 years to get another set of such players. Not that the people trying to fill the vacuum are not good. They are great in their own way, but they are not just special. For instance, Messi and C. Ronaldo are equally special players, you don’t get to see them often. With time, Nigeria will get the special one that will fill the vacuum I left.
Tell us your most memorable period as a footballer?
My memorable period was winning the Olympic in 2006 because you only have one chance to win it, and I was fortunate to be there at the right time, playing with great players.
What about regret?
If I have any regret that would be not winning The African Footballer of the year. But then, I don’t think I was meant to because I gave my best, but at the end, it wasn’t good enough. However, I had a fantastic playing career, and I don’t think I should have any regret for not winning the prize.
-RASHEED ABUBAKAR
