Augustine Okocha, a former Super Eagles captain and icon, turned 48 today, and football fans in Ebonyi have joined others around the world to celebrate him.

‘Jay Jay’ was born on August 14, 1973, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Fans around the world call him ‘Jay Jay’, while those in Enugu, where he grew up, fondly call him ‘Pa Jay’

In addition, NAN states that the AFCON 1994 gold medalist, the Olympic Games 1996 gold medalist, the AFCON 2000 silver medalist, and the AFCON 2002, 2004, and 2006 bronze medalist, all honorably represented Nigeria between 1993 and 2006.

According to the supporters who spoke to NAN in Abakaliki on Saturday, the legendary Brazilian player Pele once labeled Okocha as “one of the world’s finest footballers.”

A football Historian, Ndudi Okonkwo, said Okocha’s performance for the Flying Eagles in 1993 at the African Youth Championship in Mauritius was a game-changer for Nigerian football.

“I was inside the National Stadium, Lagos on July 3, 1993, when Jay Jay made his home debut for the Super Eagles in a USA ‘94 World Cup qualifier against Algeria,” he said.

“He kept fans on the edges of their seats with a scintillating performance, capped with an awesome free kick-equalizer for Nigeria and an audacious overhead dribble of the Algerian left full-back.”

In an interview with Enugu Rangers International FC’s media officer, Nobert Okolie, he claimed that the club would always be proud of the brilliant midfielder.

He said, “Pa Jay played for Rangers before leaving Nigeria in 1990 for Germany where he made his mark with Borussia Neunkirchen and Eintracht Frankfurt.

“He played alongside his elder brother, Emma, and will be best remembered for his stupefying goal against defunct African Continental Bank (ACB) of Lagos, off a shot from the center circle.”

Former student Franklin Anosike of Nike Grammar School in Enugu, which Okocha also went to, wished him God’s blessings and continued success in life.

He said, “Okocha brought the school to the forefront of sports in the country and had a fabled tale about him stuffing oranges as football inside his school bag while knocking around any round object.

“He tutored the great Ronaldinho of Brazil in PSG of France when Lionel Messi, whose move to the club is currently being celebrated globally, was just 11 years old.”