I still give my brother money for the name ‘Jay-Jay’, Okocha

Super Eagles star Augustine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha has shared that he still pays his brother for his popular nickname. This name came from one of his older brothers when he was a child in Enugu, as reported by The PUNCH.

Okocha explained that the nickname started in his neighborhood in Enugu. Many boys were named Austin, which made it hard for people to tell them apart.

The former Super Eagles captain said his friends began calling him “Austin Jay-Jay’s brother” because his elder brother was known as Jay-Jay.

Though Okocha did not say which brother he pays royalties to in the podcast, his immediate elder brother Emmanuel was famously called ‘Jay-Jay’.

Childhood Memories

Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Okocha remembered how he and his brothers spent their childhood playing football on the streets.

“I think it started in the neighbourhood where we grew up; all of us were footballers because we had no other toys. We were just on the street playing, and my two brothers played as well,” he said.

“We had few Austins then, so to identify which Austin is which, they started calling me Austin Jay-Jay’s brother. So from there, Austin Jay-Jay,” he added.

The nickname followed Okocha into his professional football career, making it one of the most recognized names in African football.

Embracing the Nickname

Okocha said he later officially took on “Jay-Jay” because people outside Nigeria found it hard to say his real name, Augustine.

“Some people were struggling to pronounce my name Augustine, so Jay-Jay was a lot easier, so I said I might as well adopt the name and I put it in my passport. Officially it’s mine,” he shared.

Even after adopting the nickname, Okocha jokingly said that his elder brother still deserves some payment for giving him the name. He said, “I still pay royalties to my brother. It’s like he brought the good omen.”

Okocha had a successful career in Europe, playing for teams like Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bolton Wanderers.

Known for his amazing dribbling and creativity, he became one of Nigeria’s most celebrated footballers. The name “Jay-Jay” is now inseparable from his great career.