Emma, Austin and the Jay Jay Okocha Foundation

In the beginning, it was never imagined; neither was there an inkling to what the end result would be. Two sons of the same stock, played football to the highest level (at least both played for the national team). One is older and started playing before his younger sibling. As luck would have it, fortune decided to smile so much on the younger one that even his elder brother’s name became his.Okocha’s Jay Jay” name was actually passed down from his older brother. James who started playing football first. His immediate older brother Emmanuel was also called Emma Jay Jay, but the name stock with Augustine Okocha who first began playing football on the street like many other football stars.
Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha,
Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, That sums the story of Emma Okocha, elder brother of the famous Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, whose exploits on the football fields in Europe, Asia and Africa have made him a living legend. Jay Jay is among Pele’s all-time best 100 players globally. To date, the mercurial midfielder who retired nearly a decade ago is still being sought after by fans of various clubs, asking him to dust his boots and come out of retirement. Emma Okocha’s luck (or lack of it) of being born with Jay-Jay was amplified last week in Lagos by Emma himself, during the unveiling of the Jay-Jay Okocha Foundation. “Austin always makes things difficult for me,” he started. But how? Emma has an answer, “I thought he will be looking up to me as his elder brother – but here we are – he practically flew over me.” Though with a tinge of humour, the elder Okocha told how, when moving together, the crowd (because Jay-Jay is always pulling crowds) would swoop on him and forget that he(Emma) was an Okocha too. “It would take some minutes before he realises that we were together and then, we would start looking for each other.” Thankfully, Emma said the younger and more prosperous Okocha has never abandoned him in the lurch. “He has never abandoned me and I have enjoyed every ride, every moment with him.” As a key figure in the Jay Jay Okocha Foundation set up, Emma has pledged to do his best to lift the noble ideals of its initiator and make it work. Said he, “We want to make sure we give our best into it and bring smiles to the needy.” The Jay Jay Okocha Foundation, according to its initiator, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, will create a platform which will provide a fillip to the search for future Okochas. Jay Jay said, “Everybody here knows how I started. I was not from a rich home. I was a street boy but was lucky to find myself where I am today. That is the kind of opportunity the foundation wants to offer to thousands of talented Nigerian youths. Offer them training, groom them and make them realise their dreams through football.”

Emma Okocha
Emma Okocha The former Super Eagles captain said, “Football has given me everything including a voice. Through the foundation, I am going to use my voice and unite this country and do everything to sustain that unity”. Okocha said, “Ï have been looking forward to this day, when I can create a platform to give back to the society what football has given me. I am a very passionate person; very competitive and I hate to lose. I am ageing and I feel it is the right time to come out of my shell and do something that will benefit the society. But I could not do it alone. I couldn’t have started in a better way than partner I-Nigeria.com.” To raise enough funds for the foundation, the management team, led by Austin Jay Jay Okocha signed an agreement with an online auctioning firm, I-Naira.com led by the CEO, Hillary Nwaukor. The deal makes the firm the official auctioneers of Jay-Jay Okocha’s memorabilia and the proceeds would be remitted to the foundation.


 “We’ll start auctioning thousands of his jerseys, boots and other memorabilia of his and those of his colleagues, covering his entire football career, to raise funds for the foundation,” Nwaukor said, adding that his company associated with the Jay Jay Okocha Foundation because of its underpinning philosophy which is identifying with the poor and underprivileged of the society. “We share the same patriotic zeal and fervour. We are an indigenous company which promotes anything Nigerian.” Former Super Eagles players, Peter Rufai, Austin Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju all pledged their support for the project which they have identified as a veritable means of reaching out to thousands of talented youths across the country. 

In the beginning, it was never imagined; neither was there an inkling to what the end result would be. Two sons of the same stock, played football to the highest level (at least both played for the national team). One is older and started playing before his younger sibling. As luck would have it, fortune decided to smile so much on the younger one that even his elder brother’s name became his.Okocha’s Jay Jay” name was actually passed down from his older brother. James who started playing football first. His immediate older brother Emmanuel was also called Emma Jay Jay, but the name stock with Augustine Okocha who first began playing football on the street like many other football stars. Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, That sums the story of Emma Okocha, elder brother of the famous Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, whose exploits on the football fields in Europe, Asia and Africa have made him a living legend. Jay Jay is among Pele’s all-time best 100 players globally. To date, the mercurial midfielder who retired nearly a decade ago is still being sought after by fans of various clubs, asking him to dust his boots and come out of retirement. Emma Okocha’s luck (or lack of it) of being born with Jay-Jay was amplified last week in Lagos by Emma himself, during the unveiling of the Jay-Jay Okocha Foundation. “Austin always makes things difficult for me,” he started. But how? Emma has an answer, “I thought he will be looking up to me as his elder brother – but here we are – he practically flew over me.” Though with a tinge of humour, the elder Okocha told how, when moving together, the crowd (because Jay-Jay is always pulling crowds) would swoop on him and forget that he(Emma) was an Okocha too. “It would take some minutes before he realises that we were together and then, we would start looking for each other.” Thankfully, Emma said the younger and more prosperous Okocha has never abandoned him in the lurch. “He has never abandoned me and I have enjoyed every ride, every moment with him.” As a key figure in the Jay Jay Okocha Foundation set up, Emma has pledged to do his best to lift the noble ideals of its initiator and make it work. Said he, “We want to make sure we give our best into it and bring smiles to the needy.” The Jay Jay Okocha Foundation, according to its initiator, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, will create a platform which will provide a fillip to the search for future Okochas. Jay Jay said, “Everybody here knows how I started. I was not from a rich home. I was a street boy but was lucky to find myself where I am today. That is the kind of opportunity the foundation wants to offer to thousands of talented Nigerian youths. Offer them training, groom them and make them realise their dreams through football.” Emma Okocha Emma Okocha The former Super Eagles captain said, “Football has given me everything including a voice. Through the foundation, I am going to use my voice and unite this country and do everything to sustain that unity”. Okocha said, “Ï have been looking forward to this day, when I can create a platform to give back to the society what football has given me. I am a very passionate person; very competitive and I hate to lose. I am ageing and I feel it is the right time to come out of my shell and do something that will benefit the society. But I could not do it alone. I couldn’t have started in a better way than partner I-Nigeria.com.” To raise enough funds for the foundation, the management team, led by Austin Jay Jay Okocha signed an agreement with an online auctioning firm, I-Naira.com led by the CEO, Hillary Nwaukor. The deal makes the firm the official auctioneers of Jay-Jay Okocha’s memorabilia and the proceeds would be remitted to the foundation. “We’ll start auctioning thousands of his jerseys, boots and other memorabilia of his and those of his colleagues, covering his entire football career, to raise funds for the foundation,” Nwaukor said, adding that his company associated with the Jay Jay Okocha Foundation because of its underpinning philosophy which is identifying with the poor and underprivileged of the society. “We share the same patriotic zeal and fervour. We are an indigenous company which promotes anything Nigerian.” Former Super Eagles players, Peter Rufai, Austin Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju all pledged their support for the project which they have identified as a veritable means of reaching out to thousands of talented youths across the country.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/emma-austin-jay-jay-okocha-foundation/

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