Super Eagles legend Austine Jay Jay Okocha once said he never knew he is a black footballer until he got to the German Bundesliga where he suffered racial abuse while playing.
Okocha, who played for two different clubs in Germany before he left for Turkey, said he never lost his head, but always thinking of how to retaliate in a legal way and will make them bow to his feet.
When he arrived in Germany in the early 90s, the ex-Nigeria international played for Borussia Neunkirchen between 1990–1992
The African star made 35 appearances and scored seven goals in return before his switch to Eintracht Frankfurt where he finally made name for himself in Germany.
The 1994 African Cup of Nations winner was at Frankfurt between 1992–1996, but Okocha took over the division with his sensational dribbles in no time, something he said was the only way he could repay the Germans for all the racist abuses he suffered.
“When I first got to Europe, it was Germany that I went to and the level of racism there was high. I never knew I was black until I got to Germany.
“When I got the opportunity to sign a deal and I signed, I was like – how am I going to repay this person back in a legal way. Then, I decide to dribble them in order to show am a racist.” Okocha said.
One of the highlights of Okocha’s career in Germany was a goal he scored against Karlsruher SC.
SEE ALSO | Super Eagles Haven’t Recovered From Exit Of Mikel And Ighalo – Etebo
That Okocha’s goal was voted Goal of the Season by many football magazines and also voted as 1993 goal of the year by TV viewers in Germany.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago