Legendary defender Roberto Carlos has said former Nigeria international Austin Okocha had the skills of a typical Brazilian player.
Carlos stated this in a interview posted on African Facts Zone Twitter handle.
When asked who among George Weah, Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Okocha, the Real Madrid and Brazil legend picked Okocha.
“Okocha for me…. Okocha looked like a Brazilian player playing,” the 2002 World Cup winner said.
“Okocha was spectacular, seeing him play around the world, for his country, for the clubs he played, in my opinion Okocha had many skills of a Brazilian player.
“He played with elegance when he dribbled, he was very difficult to defend. For me he was an icon of African football.”
Carlos and Okocha faced each other twice in the group stage and the semi-finals of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games.
While Brazil won 1-0 in the group game, the U-23 Eagles known then as the ‘Dream Team’, won 4-3 in a dramatic semi-final clash.
In 1994 Okocha was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations.
He featured at three FIFA World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
At club level he played for German club Eintract Frankfurt, Fenerbahce in Turkey, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers.
In March 2004, Okocha was included in the late Pele’s 100 greatest living footballers.
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COMMENTS
OKOCHA had SKILLS for SURE but it was from the LATE 90’S and EARLY 2000 that his SKILLS became more MATURE and SHARPEN otherwise OKOCHA Sabi SPOIL BALL Especially from 94….
Dude was just ENJOYING himself, WASTING TIME, FORGETTING about the REST and the PURPOSE while they are on the PITCH which is to SCORE (WIN) the GAME…
His TEAM were FURIOUS at him sometimes..
I remembered one of the GAME where is it SUNDAY OLISEH could not hide his FRUSTRATION at OKOCHA…
And @FEMI I can confirm too that there is this RUMOR of OKOCHA becoming our NEXT MINISTER of SPORTS though we are still WAITING for the LIST this WEEKEND to be SURE….
Jay jay has or still have the skill range of Pele but failed to have an objective of being much more than an entertaining football player.
He could have won many championships and be world player of the year has he been ambitious about it. Hope the next Nigerian player that plays number10 snd have those skills learn from Jay Jay’s mistakes and become the very best of the best
I’d prefer Segun Odegbami be sports minister than Jay Jay , because Segun apart from being a football player, he contributed to virtually all sports. He managed Chioma Anjunwa who won an Olympic gold , he owns the wasimi sports academy and have been writing articles in fhe areas of sports development . Those who denied him the chance to be NFF President know what he could do , but chose to scuttle the opportunity for change. I hope he’s the one they picked though .