SOMETIME in 2015, the idea to have an ex – international to manage football in Delta State was muted by the management of the Sports Commission. The idea was well accepted and when the choice of Jay Jay Okocha was made, it was jubilation galore. His “selection” reminiscent of how Ifa in the South West has been picking those in diaspora to be king, the Sports Commission was praised for the choice of Jay Jay Okocha whom we were told hails from Ogwashi Uku although, he prefers Enugu as his place of abode. It was said that he owns a mansion in a top hill in Enugu and recently, embarked on the construction of an estate in the same place. The Government of Delta State then named the mini Stadium in Ogwashi Uku after him. I am sure it was done to either entice or lure him back home but the mercurial midfielder would not want to risk such idea.
To the Stakeholders in Delta, bringing Okocha will change the face of the game. He is well travelled and has played the game to the highest level. He was unlucky not to have won the African Footballer of the year award. What he lost in that award he gained with the fame that followed his exploits in the round leather game. From Germany to England and to the the African continent, you could hear people singing his name. In one of my visits to Bolton some years ago, once I introduced myself as coming from Nigeria as a sportsman, the next question.is on.Okocha. He made a name in Bolton and since he left, the club has not remained the same. Thus, Deltans thought his coming would not only bring Naira to the table but would withness the inflow of dollar.
However, it turned out to be a mirage as the mesmerising midfielder abandoned the ship in the middle of the sea and since then, not much has been heard of him. A close source in the football House told me that the idea to impeach him was planned along the line until he threw in the towel.
However, earlier this week, it was widely reported that Austin Jay Jay Okocha in an interview with journalists admitted that he failed as Chairman of Delta State Football Association
No doubt, in a country noted for lies, Okocha won my heart and may be named man of the year for this. No. Nigerian to the best of my knowledge has done this especially in the sports arena. They will never accept and for Okocha to come out openly is a testament to his kind of person and a lesson to all. In some cases, it is the more you look the less you see.
According to jay jay Okocha, he failed woefully and gave some cogent reasons why he failed. He may have to tell us more in the nearest future why he vamoosed in to thin air at that time.
“ I failed woefully as Delta FA (Football Association), Chairman. If I remember, I did not complete my tenure. I walked away. I raised my hand. I didn’t achieve anything as Delta FA Chairman. “
The former Super Eagles Captain further said corruption and the system will not allow people like him to succeed on this post.
“ The structure will not allow people like us to succeed. The level of corruption in all sectors in Nigeria is too much. There are many people with personal interests around and they will not allow you to work”.
I’m sure this is one the reasons Okocha was said to have criticised the choice of Eric Sekou Chelle as Coach of the Super Eagles. After that bombshell, he was told to apologise but he turned that request down. “ We cannot continue to keep quiet while things continue to spoil. Don’t we have right for freedom of speech again in Nigeria.”
He continued “ Football is the only thing that keeps us as one. It is our only source of joy. If you politicise it, what will be our hope tomorrow. We must be free and allowed to express our minds”.
If I may defend Okocha as Chairman of Delta FA then, he did not understand the people he was dealing with and spent too much time outside the state. He failed to monitor events and before he could say Jack Robbinson, “water don pass garri” apology to Warri people.
This is one major point Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has endeared and won the hearts of Deltans. He stays with the people and personally monitor projects. I am sure if he were to be in charge of affairs when those mini stadia that littered Delta State were constructed, the story would have been different today. It is a shame that none of those stadia could house Warri Wolves Football Club who ply their trade in the Nigeria National league. To those contractors then, it was as if they were planting Cassava or Okro, the way they planted the grasses. The soil was not tested. It was anything goes and no clear supervision.
I will, therefore, appeal to our Governor to take a second look at the mini stadia and see what he can do with clear personal supervision so that people can enjoy sports. They are in Kwale, Agbor, Oghara, Ughelli, Oleh, Otu Jeremi, Sapele, and Koko. A visit to these mini stadia will convince our Sports Loving Governor that the people do not deserve this and deserve more as stated in M. O. R. E. Agenda.
