"All
memories are invariably bad," opined the fatalistic Maxim de Winter in
the timeless classic 'Rebecca'. Even pleasurable events of the past
leave a sour tang, a tinge of regret at their impermanence. Watching Jay-Jay Okocha play again, albeit in a testimonial to celebrate Nigeria 's joint most-capped footballer ever, brought so many memories flooding back.
The reactions were beatific, and they were unanimous - he still has IT .
Retired from active football for a decade he may be, but like the proverbial old lady, Jay-Jay defied the years with his mastery of dance and footwork. Samuel Eto'o, lately in the twilight of a bejewelled career, and arguably Africa's greatest-ever player, joined in the affirmation. His signalling to the bench, half-jesting, for the former Super Eagles' captain to be withdrawn was the image of the Joseph Yobo testimonial.
The twilight of his career may not have been marked by the self-harm
that scuppered Ronaldinho, a kindred spirit and protege at Paris
Saint-Germain in the early noughties, but no one, least of all the man
himself, could claim he absolutely maxed out his talent allotment.
Interestingly, he had initially intended to quit the national team back
in 2002 following the World Cup in Korea and Japan, citing "a lack of
motivation" in an interview with Agence France Presse. He was 27.
It did not seem either that his legs had gone: Okocha was never remarkably quick anyway. Instead, it appeared that, having spent the first decade of his career being a free spirit, he found the rigours of proper football, along with the required discipline, too restrictive. If he could not play football on his own terms, then it really wasn't worth the hassle.
Playing in the Premier League, under one of the divison's more reductive managers in Sam Allardyce, went some way toward remedying this deficiency. However, it robbed the player of the very essence of his personality, which was that there was no real essence at all.
Jay-Jay simply wanted to have fun, an aim not compatible with discipline and self-denial. It was, therefore, no surprise that disillusionment followed quickly, as did retirement, just when it looked like the Super Eagles were finally set to reap the benefits of a mature, rounded player.
What was remarkable to see many hanker for a reincarnation of a prime Okocha as he rolled back the years in Port Harcourt at the weekend. It's tempting to theorize: just how would he have fared in modern football, at the peak of his powers?
Dribbling as a tool in build-up has become increasingly important, especially as a means to evade ever more intense opposition pressure. In that regard, there are few better dribblers in world football today, talking purely about the sheer range of his repertoire. However, few managers today would play Okocha in a midfield double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, the tactical encapsulation of the footballing zeitgeist.
Neither is ideal; while a brilliant juggler of the ball, Jay-Jay was never the primary creative player - he lacked both the nuance and the intelligence to play the role consistently. At his peak with the national team, he actually excelled as a runner from midfielder, with the team's no. 10, Kanu, serving as the conduit.
That would suggest he would do well in a 4-3-3, but considering that
the shuttling midfielders also perform key defensive functions -
protecting the half-space against quick breaks, for example - there is
enough reason for skepticism. Coordinated counterpressing - the
immediate application of pressure upon losing the ball - would have been
impossible, as he frequently admired his own audacity a bit too long.
It may simply be more prudent to accept that, for all his ability, Okocha was a product of his time, one in which circus acts could still be indulged right in the heart of a team.
We will never get a Jay-Jay clone, and perhaps that is for the best. After all, in terms of genetics, his closest relative is the rather less footloose Alex Iwobi - fewer pyrotechnics, less flash, but perhaps a bit more punch, all delivered with a thin zest of showmanship.
The reactions were beatific, and they were unanimous - he still has IT .
Retired from active football for a decade he may be, but like the proverbial old lady, Jay-Jay defied the years with his mastery of dance and footwork. Samuel Eto'o, lately in the twilight of a bejewelled career, and arguably Africa's greatest-ever player, joined in the affirmation. His signalling to the bench, half-jesting, for the former Super Eagles' captain to be withdrawn was the image of the Joseph Yobo testimonial.
Yet, the awed applause was fringed by sadness, as well as a sense of loss. Of course, latent genius does not simply atrophy overnight, or even over 10 years - Ronaldinho has not won another Ballon d'Or in that time, but remains capable of the sublime on demand - but with Jay-Jay, it is difficult to shake the feeling that the reason he has so much juice left is because he did not quite leave it all out on the pitch.This #Legend still got the magic. @setoo9 begged for @IAmOkocha removal at last week's #YoboTestimonial #Okocha #TBT pic.twitter.com/c2WRjDwkvC— The NFF (@thenff) June 2, 2016
It did not seem either that his legs had gone: Okocha was never remarkably quick anyway. Instead, it appeared that, having spent the first decade of his career being a free spirit, he found the rigours of proper football, along with the required discipline, too restrictive. If he could not play football on his own terms, then it really wasn't worth the hassle.
Playing in the Premier League, under one of the divison's more reductive managers in Sam Allardyce, went some way toward remedying this deficiency. However, it robbed the player of the very essence of his personality, which was that there was no real essence at all.
Jay-Jay simply wanted to have fun, an aim not compatible with discipline and self-denial. It was, therefore, no surprise that disillusionment followed quickly, as did retirement, just when it looked like the Super Eagles were finally set to reap the benefits of a mature, rounded player.
What was remarkable to see many hanker for a reincarnation of a prime Okocha as he rolled back the years in Port Harcourt at the weekend. It's tempting to theorize: just how would he have fared in modern football, at the peak of his powers?
Dribbling as a tool in build-up has become increasingly important, especially as a means to evade ever more intense opposition pressure. In that regard, there are few better dribblers in world football today, talking purely about the sheer range of his repertoire. However, few managers today would play Okocha in a midfield double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1, the tactical encapsulation of the footballing zeitgeist.
The option would be either to field him as a 10, or to use him in a three-man midfield as a shuttler.My birthday tribute to Jay-Jay @IAmOkocha : Nigeria's aesthetic maestro http://t.co/3WbjPgoVKm for @GoalcomNigeria .— Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) August 14, 2015
Neither is ideal; while a brilliant juggler of the ball, Jay-Jay was never the primary creative player - he lacked both the nuance and the intelligence to play the role consistently. At his peak with the national team, he actually excelled as a runner from midfielder, with the team's no. 10, Kanu, serving as the conduit.
It may simply be more prudent to accept that, for all his ability, Okocha was a product of his time, one in which circus acts could still be indulged right in the heart of a team.
We will never get a Jay-Jay clone, and perhaps that is for the best. After all, in terms of genetics, his closest relative is the rather less footloose Alex Iwobi - fewer pyrotechnics, less flash, but perhaps a bit more punch, all delivered with a thin zest of showmanship.
He may have rolled back the years, and is unrivalled for pure ability in the history of Nigerian football, but in an era dominated like no other by goals and numbers, Jay-Jay's wasteful irreverence would have been decidedly out of place in modern football.Austin Okocha is no doubt Nigeria's most gifted player of all time.— Bimbo omo Adeola (@bimbolovesmusic) May 27, 2016
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