Nigeria: Jay-Jay Okocha

Ambitious Nigeria star Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has vowed to impress in Japan and Korea so he can earn a lucrative move to the Barclaycard Premiership.

This summer’s World Cup presents a golden opportunity for the exciting forward to show his impressive France ’98 performances were no flash in the pan.

Okocha is a pan-African legend whose talents have yet to yield a medal in his four years at Paris St Germain and he could opt to leave the French capital when his contract expires in the summer.

So, at this career crossroads, his performances for the ‘Super Eagles’ against Sweden, Argentina and England will take on great significance as a bargaining tool.

Okocha makes no bones about how he views football as a money-making industry.

‘‘I will not play football all my life and while I am doing, it is necessary that I profit from it,’’ he said when joining Eintracht Frankfurt in 1995.

His career highlights to date have been an Olympic gold from the 1996 football tournament and African Nations’ Cup victory with Nigeria in 1994.

Okocha’s performances at the Atlanta Games led to a transfer to Turkish side Fenerbahce, and he netted 16 times in his first season and 14 more the next year as the Istanbul club landed the Turkish league.

But when his time runs out in Paris, the playmaker is tempted by a move to England.

A move away to a Spanish or Italian giant would suit him - ‘‘If I get the opportunity to play for a big club, why not?’’ he says - but it is the lure of England which is his fancy.

‘‘I would love to play in the Premiership if I get the opportunity,’’ he said.

‘‘I hope it will be soon, while I’m still fit.’’

Okocha’s performances were instrumental in Nigeria beating Spain to qualify from the first group phase in France, but a 4-1 defeat by Denmark in round two thwarted any greater ambitions.

PSG’s €16million persuaded Fenerbahce to release their talisman, but injuries induced poor form in his opening season when five goals in 27 matches was a disappointing return.

That first year at PSG saw abuse hurled from the terraces by supporters frustrated by his inconsistency.

Coach Philippe Bergeroo withdrew Okocha into a defensive midfield role the next season which proved a smart tactical decision. PSG succeeded in reaching the league cup final, only to lose 2-0 against Third Division Gueugnon.

Okocha’s career began at hometown club International Rangers Enugu, before he joined German club Borussia Neukirchen.

It soon became clear he was a player with top-flight quality and Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt made him theirs in 1992.

Three seasons there saw him net 19 goals in 80 league games and the Turkish Lira was too good to resist when Fenerbahce swooped.

Supporters of the Istanbul club embraced the cheerful Super Eagle, whose flood of goals helped him bed in.

The move to Paris has certainly been wearing on the now 28-year-old, and in the season just ended he warmed the bench more than he would like due to the arrival of Ronaldinho.

Still PSG’s highest-paid player, on a reported £1.3million per year, Okocha may not be wanted in Paris but his international bosses remain convinced by his stature.

As such, he is inked into Festus Onigbinde’s team and expects the Africans to march into the second round.

Their Group F campaign concludes on June 12 with an Osaka showdown against England.

‘‘Come the 12th of June 2002, everyone will take Nigeria serious,’’ Okocha warned. ‘‘You write off the Super Eagles at your peril.’’