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Okocha, Zidane's Farewell: Lessons For Aiyegbeni And Company
Some of the world's greatest philosophers had, for ages pondered on the cruelty of fate. It would, however, be few, if any, that could contemplate the cruel joke fate played on former Super Eagles Captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha last Monday, as he was sacked unceremoniously by Bolton Wanderers - the team he sacrificed everything for, even sometimes his country.
Meawhile, at the Bernabeu, French international, Zinedine Zidane was given an emotional send-off. OLUKAYODE THOMAS reports that the experience of the two men holds a lesson for players who place club over country.
WHO is the greatest and most creative mid-fielder in the world in the last ten years? The following names readily come to mind: French legend, Zinedine Zidane, Dutch master, Clarence Seedorf and England's fashion icon, David Beckham. Names like Rivaldo, Sebastian Veron and others will also readily be counted.
A little below Smith in affirming Okocha as one of the most creative midfielders of the last decade is current FIFA World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldinho.
Asked where he learnt all football tricks, Ronadinho was not ashamed to tell the world that he learnt on the streets of Brazil and from watching Okocha when they were team-mates at PSG.
"I learnt most of the tricks from him, but I have improved on what he does," said Ronaldinho.
Ironically, the master of masters, whose dribbling skills strain the descriptive power of single adjectives; who is as good, if not better, than most of the world's best with dead balls, and killer passes has been sacked unceremoniously by his club, Bolton Wanderers.
Having played across Europe, Okocha is experienced enough to know that in football, as in life, all good things come to an end. Throughout his career in Nigeria, Germany, Turkey and France, the legendary midfielder delighted crowds, inspired team-mates and built a reputation as one of the world's most gifted footballers. He made friends and then happily said his farewells, as professionals do.
Last Monday, however, was different. Right up to the last day, when he was told his contract would not be renewed, Okocha had hoped to extend his stay into a fifth season. Now, he is looking for a new club, preferably in England. Still only 32, he believes he could play two more years in the Premiership.
He is sad, disappointed, but not bitter. According to Bolton Wanderer's Newspaper, Okocha is leaving a proud man; knowing he has played a major part in helping the club he joined in the summer of 2002 become a major force in the English league.
Though Bolton's management may be bitter that the club did not secure a second season of European football, the fact remains that Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Wanderers are the only teams to finish in the top half of the Premiership in the past three seasons. And Okocha, with his sublime talent, has been the catalyst, on and off the field for Bolton.
Team-mate, Stelios, reckoned it was the presence of the Eagles superstar, along with Bruno N'Gotty and Ivan Campo, that induced him to sign for Wanderers. And he is not alone.
On the field, Okocha led Wanderers to their highest league placing for more than 40 years in 2004-05, and when he became the first Bolton captain to lead the club into Europe, he achieved the goal he set for himself when he shocked the football world and came to Bolton on a free transfer from Paris St Germain (PSG).
"I had that dream from the first day, even though some people had different opinions about it," the former Eagles captain told the local media. "But I kept believing that, because of how I could see the club growing, we would end up in Europe. Now the club is talking of moving on to the next level. Unfortunately, I won't be part of it. I'd love to be, but that's football life."
It is an indication of how far Wanderers have come in such a short time that Okocha's abiding memories, surprisingly was not the Carling Cup semi-final against Aston Villa which many remember as his finest hour or of the relegation battle at the end of his first season, when he was truly inspirational; the goal he scored in the vital win against West Ham and the drama of the last day victory's over Middlesbrough.
His proudest achievement, he said, is putting Bolton on the European map. "It gives me a great deal of satisfaction knowing I have achieved something people never thought I could do," he said. "When I took up the challenge, people said I would only spend a year or half a season here, but I've proved them wrong. It was a surprise to everybody, even my family when I came here. But I am glad I did."
His only regret was that he did not end on a high. Missing out on Europe brought a disappointing end to a season of personal frustration, injuries and loss of form. "It is sad to leave this fantastic club, more so because I haven't had a great season," he said with typical honesty. "It's been very tough but I have no bitterness. That's what I came here to do and I am glad the fans appreciated it."
But he said he would be leaving with nothing but fond feelings for Wanderers. "I don't hold any grudges against the manager or the chairman because the club has to move on," he said.
"Even though I would have liked to say 'goodbye' to the fans in a different way, I have to accept it. I have a lot of good memories and I will be a fan forever. I am sad to be leaving. My son was just four months old when we arrived here and now he is four and speaks with a Bolton accent. But I am very happy with what I have achieved here."
Okocha's Bolton adventure began after the Japan/Korea 2002 World Cup. After a five-star performance for Nigeria at the World Cup, Okocha, who had a turbulent season in PSG before the World Cup, became the beautiful bride again.
Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, one of Okocha's suitors, then confessed that he had to cut through 50 agents before he could get Okocha. In his four years in Bolton, Okocha helped turned the club, a perpetual struggler against relegation, into one of the dreaded teams in the premiership.
Okocha also did well for himself, being nominated twice for PFA Award. But from the moment he started battling with injury and his form dropped, Allardyce started attacking him in the media. He also wasted little time in removing Okocha as club captain. It was in the face of this humiliation that Okocha contemplated moving to Qatar.
Then he regained his form and Allardyce started rubbishing the idea of Okocha moving to Qatar. He also promised that his former captain would get a new deal. It was not to be, as Allardyce finally sacrificed the saviour of Bolton.
But for Okocha's romance with Bolton, which made him shun some of Germany 2006 World Cup qualifying matches, Nigeria would probably have qualified for the World Cup. With Nigeria not playing in Germany, Okocha's chance of getting a good offer looks slim, as most of his best moves come from playing for Nigeria. His move to Fernabache came after a glowing performance at the Atlanta'96 Olympic Games; PSG splashed $17 million on him, the highest on any African player then, after a splendid performance for Nigeria at France '98 World Cup. Bolton came after him following his performance at Japan/Korea World Cup.
For all he did for Bolton, Okocha deserves what Real Madrid did for French international, Zinedine Zidane last Sunday, the day he played his last match at Real Bernabeu stadium- incidentally the same day Okocha played his last game for Bolton and was sacked. Zidane, scored for Real Madrid as he was given an emotional send-off by the club's fans in his last match at the Bernabeu before his retirement after the FIFA World Cup.
With his side trailing Villarreal 2-1, the three-time World Player of the Year rose to the occasion when he looped a header over keeper Mariano Barbosa after David Beckham had clipped the ball into the area.
Real ended up drawing the game 3-3, a result that allowed them to take second place in the Primera Liga, a point ahead of Valencia and 12 behind Barcelona, who retained their title.
An 80,000 capacity crowd paid tribute to the 33-year-old French midfielder before kick-off by holding up a vast, white mosaic made up of shirts emblazoned with his name and the number five. The Frenchman was given a standing ovation by the crowd while the video screens played highlights of his five-year career with the Spanish giants.
The player himself looked somewhat embarrassed by the tribute. He kept his head down and carried on with his warm-up exercises but briefly acknowledged the crowd before the match got underway.
Zidane's team mates all wore a shirt specially made for the occasion, with 'Zidane 2001-2006' embroidered below the club's crest.
The Real Madrid playmaker was given another ovation when he was substituted five minutes from the final whistle and returned to the centre of the pitch after the match to thank the fans for their support.
Zidane joined Real for a world-record transfer fee of $66 million from Juventus in 2001, having been targeted by the then club president, Florentino Perez, as a key part of his plans to construct a 'Galactico' super team for the club's centenary season.
He had a difficult start at Real but soon became an integral part of the team and proved to be the most influential player in their run to the UEFA Champions League final, during which he scored a stunning winner in the 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.
The victory enabled Zidane to complete an impressive collection of winners' medals for club and country, which included the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship in 2000.
He helped Real to win the league title in 2003, the club's last trophy. But his potencies have been on the wane since then and, at the end of April, he announced his intention to retire after the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
"I've really enjoyed these five years," Zidane was quoted as saying in the programme for the Villarreal match. "There have been some bad times, but it will be the good ones I will always remember. I came here hoping to win the European Cup and I can leave happy as I have done that.
"I've got great memories of that game and I also had the good luck to score that goal in Glasgow. I'll never forget that moment. My departure forms part of football, I'm not afraid of retirement. I'm proud of my career because I've played with two of the biggest teams, Real Madrid and Juventus, and I've won a lot of trophies.
"I've always been a very competitive player and done all I can to win and I haven't been doing that recently. I'm retiring because I can no longer offer Real Madrid Zidane at 100 percent."
Zidane and former Real Madrid great, Alfredo Di Stefano, were also given a joint tribute last Tuesday.
Real will play Stade Reims, the side they beat to win the first of their nine European Cups in 1956, at the reserve team ground in Valdebebas, which has been named after the Argentine.
Okocha obviously deserves the same, if not something better from Bolton.
OKOCHA'S SCORECARD
Real name: Austin Okocha.
Nickname: Jay Jay
Born: August 14, 1973 in Enugu, Nigeria.
Signed: July 2002 from Paris St Germain.
Previous clubs: Paris St Germain from August 1, 1998 to July 1, 2002; Fenerbahce from August 1, 1996 to May 31, 1998, Eintracht Frankfurt from August 1, 1992 to May 31, 1996. He started with Rangers International of Enugu.
Career Games
Total club statistics: 394 (including 36 as sub), scoring 84 goals, 10 yellow cards, one red card. 19 games in Europe (including five as sub), scoring six goals.
For Nigeria: 66 games (including one as sub), scoring 13 goals, 33 yellow cards, never sent off.
For Bolton: 145 games (including 22 as sub), scoring 18 goals, seven yellow cards, never sent off.
This season: 39 games (including 11 as sub), scoring one goal, one yellow card, no sending off.
This season for Nigeria: two games (including one of them as sub).
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