Nigeria's senior national team captain Kanu Nwankwo on Monday said former Nigeria captain Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha decision to quit international football was admirable and courageous, adding that Nigeria will miss the bundle of skill player.
Kanu said he admired Okocha for his decision to quit at the peak of his career. "All Nigerians want him to keep on playing for Nigeria but that is his decision to retire," he said.
Kanu described Okocha as a role model to up coming soccer players in the country that worth to be emulated, the News Agency of Nigeria reported Tuesday.
Okocha while reacting to Kanu's remark said no man was an island, noting that the vacuum his exit might seem to create in the national team would eventually be filled.
"I am glad that I have paid my dues to the nation and I'm very glad my hard work was appreciated," he said.
He commended his home state, Delta, for "celebrating" him while he is still alive by naming Ogwashi-Ukwu Stadium after him and organizing last week's soccer testimonial in his honor.
He said his only regret was missing to win the African Footballer of the Year throughout his career, and the turning point in his life was when he joined Germany's Eintracht Frankfurtin 1992.
He said he could only play in the reserve team then because he was only 18 but things changed so fast that he was drafted to the senior team when injury ruled out many of them.
Okocha said his biggest challenge was to be recognized in the world even after he had retired, adding that his goal was to quit on a high note rather than continue and flourish in disgrace.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article