Okocha’s skills thrill fans at exhibition match
Retired Nigeria superstar Austin Jay-Jay Okocha dazzled with his popular skills and tricks in an exhibition match at the Explora Stadium in Orlando, Florida at the weekend.
The match, tagged ‘The Beautiful Game’, was a gathering of retired and active players with the competing teams captained by Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos.
Okocha featured in Ronaldinho’s team and won the game 4-3. Ronaldinho and Okocha were teammates at Paris Saint-Germain between 2001 and 2002.
The former Bolton Wanderers midfielder scored the first goal of the game, dribbling past the opposition defence before lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Rene Higuita.
49-year-old Jay Jay Okocha scores a stunning goal during Team Ronaldinho and Team Roberto Carlos's exhibition match.
Ronaldinho, Vinicius, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Cafu, Dybala, Nani, Kluivert, Higuita, Valderrama, Moura, Dida, Khaby Lame all took part in the game. pic.twitter.com/uN1fioA2Rn
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 25, 2023
Another Brazilian in Rivaldo equalised for Carlos’ team with a long-range strike past fellow Brazilian Dida but Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert restored the lead for Team Ronaldinho before Cafu, regarded as one of the greatest right-backs in the game, made it 3-1 with a chip over Higuita.
Lucas Moura pulled one back for Carlos’ team but it did not take long before Vinicius Junior made it 4-2 for Team Ronaldinho.
The Real Madrid star switched to team Carlos in the second half and scored within three minutes of the restart.
The highly-entertaining game ended abruptly with a heavy downpour of rain and constant invasion of the pitch by fans eager to take selfies with their favourite football stars.
