Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed that the most important advice he ever received in football came from his uncle and Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
Speaking on The High Performance Podcast, the Fulham star explained that Okocha encouraged him to always play with freedom and confidence rather than fear.
“Express yourself. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. I got it from my uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha,” Iwobi said.
The midfielder added that the advice stayed with him throughout his career because he saw how Okocha lived by that philosophy both on and off the pitch.
“He said it to me once, and I literally just watched how he lived his life,” Iwobi explained.
Iwobi, who is the nephew of former Super Eagles captain Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha, said observing the legendary playmaker helped shape his own style of football.
“He was someone who just enjoyed football. He didn’t play with fear. He just expressed himself,” Iwobi added.
Okocha was widely known for his creativity, flair and fearless style during his career with clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Bolton Wanderers, qualities that Iwobi says inspired him while developing as a young player.
The Fulham midfielder has gone on to build a successful career of his own, becoming one of Nigeria’s most experienced players and one of the country’s most consistent performers in the Premier League.
