"I Was Lucky I left Nigeria Early": Okocha Reveals Why He Succeeded in Football

• Nigeria legend Jay Jay Okocha has revealed why he succeed in football
• The former Super Eagles captain left Nigeria as a teenager to join a club in Germany
• Okocha is regarded as one of the best attacking midfielder in football

Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has revealed leaving Nigeria at an early age helped him flourish in his career as a footballer.

The legendary midfielder left Nigeria as a teenager to continue his career in Germany, where he signed for Borussia Neunkirchen at the age of 16.

After two years, he moved to Eintracht Frankfurt where he became a legend in the Bundesliga and he is famously remembered for his wizardry goal against Oliver Kahn.

Okocha went on to become a global star, playing for some of the best clubs in Europe including Paris-Saint Germain and Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.

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Football

According to Okocha, his career would have suffered if he had stayed longer in Nigeria.

“The difference is that  in Europe you have everything you need to improve as a player and you’re playing under better coaches and a better environment.  In Nigeria, we lack facilities and that disturbs one’s opportunity to perform and bring out the best in a young player," he told Arise TV.

“I was lucky that I left Nigeria early,” Okocha added.

Okocha is revered in Nigeria after starring in his country's World Cup appearances in 1998 and 2002.

Okocha speaks on life after football

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Super Eagles legend Austin Jay Jay Okocha has disclosed that he has continued to enjoy life after his remarkable career in football.

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Football

Okocha who retired from the round-leathered game having last played for Hull City in 2008, left indelible footprints after spending 18 years playing professionally.

The former Bolton Wanderers star has delved into punditry since he hung his boots and he has also been seen in quite a number of TV commercials.

Okocha spotted with Ronaldinho

Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha was spotted in a clip showing the moment he had a lavish dinner with top football icons including his former PSG teammate Ronaldinho.

It was all about glitz and glamour at the star-studded table with cuisines from different continents served to treat the special guests to their optimum pleasure.

Holding his phone for ‘selfies’, Okocha could not help but capture the exciting moment while Ronaldinho on his own path also clicked away on his phone.