Okocha Reveals How He Got The Famous ‘Jay Jay’ Name
Super Eagles legend Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha has revealed the story behind the nickname that became one of the most recognisable names in African football.
Okocha, whose full name is Augustine Azuka Okocha, said the nickname originated in the neighbourhood where he grew up, where he and his brothers spent much of their time playing football.
According to the Nigerian icon, several people around him were called Austin, making it necessary to find a way to distinguish between them.
“I think it started in the neighbourhood where we grew up. All of us were footballers because we had no other toy,” Okocha said.
“We were just on the street playing and my two brothers played as well. So we had a few Austins then. So to identify which Austin is which, they started calling Austin Jay Jay’s brother and from there Austin Jay Jay stuck.”
The nickname became even more useful when Okocha moved abroad and people struggled to pronounce Augustine.
“When I travelled, some people were struggling to pronounce my name Augustine and Jay Jay was a lot easier. I said I might as well adopt the name and I put it in my passport and it’s officially mine,” he explained.
Okocha then jokingly revealed that he still has to “pay royalties” to his brothers for the name.
“I’m still paying royalties for my name to my brothers,” he added.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers star went on to enjoy a remarkable career, representing clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, PSG and Bolton.
He also won the 1996 Olympic gold medal with Nigeria and earned 73 caps for the Super Eagles, becoming renowned worldwide for his extraordinary dribbling, creativity and entertaining style of play.
Okocha, whose full name is Augustine Azuka Okocha, said the nickname originated in the neighbourhood where he grew up, where he and his brothers spent much of their time playing football.
According to the Nigerian icon, several people around him were called Austin, making it necessary to find a way to distinguish between them.
“I think it started in the neighbourhood where we grew up. All of us were footballers because we had no other toy,” Okocha said.
“We were just on the street playing and my two brothers played as well. So we had a few Austins then. So to identify which Austin is which, they started calling Austin Jay Jay’s brother and from there Austin Jay Jay stuck.”
The nickname became even more useful when Okocha moved abroad and people struggled to pronounce Augustine.
“When I travelled, some people were struggling to pronounce my name Augustine and Jay Jay was a lot easier. I said I might as well adopt the name and I put it in my passport and it’s officially mine,” he explained.
Okocha then jokingly revealed that he still has to “pay royalties” to his brothers for the name.
“I’m still paying royalties for my name to my brothers,” he added.
The former Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers star went on to enjoy a remarkable career, representing clubs including Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, PSG and Bolton.
He also won the 1996 Olympic gold medal with Nigeria and earned 73 caps for the Super Eagles, becoming renowned worldwide for his extraordinary dribbling, creativity and entertaining style of play.
