Sports

Fans Knock Okocha Over €150m Claim

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2023

Some fans have disagreed with former Super Eagles captain Austin Okocha after he said he would have cost around €150m in today’s transfer market with the general opinion that his dribbling displays didn’t end often enough in goals.

The legendary midfielder joined Paris Saint-Germain from Turkish giants Fenerbahce for a then-African transfer record fee of £14m. The move to PSG was finalised following his impressive performance for Nigeria at the France 1998 FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with Turkish outfit, hurriyet, the 49-year-old explained why he believed he would have attracted such a high transfer fee.

“They paid £106m for their defensive midfielder (Enzo Fernandez) Chelsea. To a player from Portugal. I would have cost around €150m, my assists, dribbles… World football started to pay a lot of money. Such would be the numbers of players of this quality.”

After spending four years at PSG, Okocha joined Premier League club Bolton and led them to the final of the League Cup in 2004 where they lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough.

Fans however took to social media to knock the 1996 Olympic gold medallist’s comments as they don’t believe he would have attracted much interest from clubs if he played in modern football.

Tico Benson compared Okocha to Brazil legend, Ronaldinho Gaucho writing, “I really doubt that because you do more entertainment on the pitch rather than create chances for your team or even score more goals. Ronaldinho combined it all. Hence, he was rated more.”

Another user with the username @Abriyin_ believes it is difficult to say Okocha would be worth that much when other Africans played at bigger clubs and won bigger club titles, “It’s difficult to defend a skilful player who played for the likes of Bolton and Hull City when Kanu and co killing it at Arsenal and Ajax even winning FA cup with Portsmouth.”

He also compared Okocha to French winger Allan Saint-Maximin who has also been criticised for showboating and not contributing enough in the final third, “Prime Okocha and Saint-Maximin are in the same category. Teams look for more than just skills and showboating.”

Twitter influencer Bayo Otedola compared him to Japanese winger Karou Mitoma whose major contribution is also dribbling and cost Brighton £2.6m, “You and Mitoma, I no sabi una difference.”

A Nigerian named Rayo believes he was misled by the stories he heard and video compilations, “Only if you knew how I bragged about this bros back then when I was little based on compilation videos I watched and what we heard about him. Later discovered he was an unserious footballer and I felt scammed. How was I picking this bros over prime Ronaldinho and co.”

Duke Austine thinks that Okocha did not do enough to be regarded as a legend, “Dribbling without purpose doesn’t make JayJay a legend talk less of class.”

Twitter user, @Instructor2Gym agreed with Austine’s comments saying, “End product zero. He won’t maintain a high value after two seasons.”

@GodsDawta1 also criticised his lack of finishing in the final third, “Big cap sir. Football has moved pass just dribbling and wasting the ball. Whats the end product of the dribbles is what matters. Okocha was good at dribbling and wasting the ball.”

Joel Morgan wrote, “I laughed hard. How much was CR7 sold from Juventus to Man U and Messi from Barca to PSG that Jay Jay feels he would have been worth €150m in today’s market. Even if we have to go back to time at his peaks in Bolton, he was never close to the most expensive player bought to EPL.”

Danielson believes Mikel Obi and other African players who didn’t cost close to that had better careers than Okocha, “With no end products abeg na lie and besides Samuel Eto’o, Drogba, Kanu and even Mikel had a better career than you.”

Okocha finished his club career with six trophies, 16 individual honours, 101 goals and 57 assists in 492 appearances.

Sports

Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

Published

10 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has expressed delight over the outstanding performance of Edo athletes representing Nigeria on the international stage.

Enabulele, while describing the athletes as worthy ambassadors of the state and the country in general, singled out the impressive participation of seven Edo kickboxing athletes in Team Nigeria at the African Union Kickboxing Championship in Cameroon.

In a congratulatory message signed by his media aide, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele lauded the accomplishments of Flora Ugwunwa and Christopher Michael, who clinched gold medals at the 2025 World Para Athletics (WPA) Grand Prix in Tunis, Tunisia.

INFO DAILY reports that Ugwunwa bagged gold in the F54 women’s shot put and discus events, while Michael emerged victorious in the T11 men’s 100m event.

He said: “The remarkable performance of the country’s para-athletes in Tunisia, where Nigeria finished second overall out of 42 participating nations with 10 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals, is highly commendable.”

The Edo sports boss, while recalling the impressive performance of Team Edo during the recently concluded National Sports Festival (Ogun 2024), where Edo kickboxers secured 20 gold medals, said the feat which earned many of them national call-ups.

Enabulele reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to grassroots sports development and consistent support for para-athletes and other promising talents who continue to bring pride to Edo State and Nigeria.

“I’m proud of our athletes. Flora, Christopher, and our kickboxing team have done exceptionally well. This is what we want to see—Edo athletes in large numbers representing Nigeria at global events,” he emphasized.

Enabulele added that the achievements of Edo athletes reflect the deliberate investments in sports development by the current administration.

Sports

Full List: Maresca No Longer Needs Nine Players At Chelsea

Published

20 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Editor

Chelsea are preparing for another major squad overhaul this summer, with as many as nine players set to leave Stamford Bridge.

New manager Enzo Maresca is keen to trim the squad further, targeting players who no longer fit into his long-term plans.

According to BBC Sport, the Italian tactician has identified nine players who are now available for transfer.

The players reportedly on the exit list include Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Armando Broja, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Sterling and Félix were both omitted from Chelsea’s squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Sterling, who spent last season on loan at Arsenal, struggled to make an impression at the Emirates and failed to secure a permanent move.

Félix, meanwhile, was on loan at AC Milan from January until the end of the campaign, but the Serie A club have reportedly decided against making the deal permanent.

Sports

NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2025

Editor

The Executive Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged Bendel Insurance Football Club to go for victory.

His charge follows the official announcement of the commencement of the 2025/26 season by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board Chairman, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Announcing the commencement in Abuja, Elegbeleye said the season will run from August 22, 2025, to May 24, 2026.

He emphasized that maintaining a stable football calendar is critical to Nigeria’s improved performance in continental tournaments.

Reacting to the announcement, Enabulele commended the NPFL leadership for the consistency in scheduling.

The Edo Sports Commission Boss who spoke through his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, called on players, coaches, and the entire management of Bendel Insurance FC to approach the new season with renewed vigor and a winning mentality.

“We are aware that the league calendar has been stabilized. This means every club must be better prepared. For us at Bendel Insurance, this is a fresh opportunity to compete strongly, win games, and aim for the top. The people of Edo State deserve nothing less,” he said.

Enabulele also pledged continued support for the team’s technical crew and urged the players to maintain discipline, focus, and unity both on and off the pitch, he also appreciated His Excellency, Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa for their unwavering commitment and support in elevating the team.