Ooredoo Maldives has welcomed the football legend Jay-Jay Okocha, the former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star and Nigerian national team icon, to the Maldives. Okocha arrived on 3rd July 2024 and was greeted with a traditional welcome ceremony by the Managing Director and CEO of Ooredoo Maldives, along with the senior management of the company. The celebration included a warm welcome with boduberu.
Jay-Jay Okocha, born Augustine Azuka Okocha on 14th August 1973, is renowned for his exceptional skills, creativity, and playmaking ability. He played as an attacking midfielder and earned 73 caps for the Nigerian national team, scoring 14 goals between 1993 and 2006. Okocha was part of three FIFA World Cup squads and is considered one of Africa’s greatest football players. In 1998, Paris Saint-Germain signed Okocha for around £14 million, making him the most expensive African player at the time. During his four-year tenure with PSG, he played 84 matches and scored 12 goals. Okocha also mentored the young Brazilian footballer and future Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldinho during his time in Paris.
Okocha’s visit to the Maldives, which will last from 3rd to 8th July 2024, includes participation in various community initiatives and showcasing the beauty of the Maldives to his extensive fanbase and PSG’s followers worldwide.
Ooredoo Maldives has organised several activities for their customers during Okocha’s visit:
1. Meet and Greet: An exclusive session where Jay-Jay Okocha will meet notable members of the Maldivian football community, including current and former players, as well as sports journalists.
2. Futsal Match: Okocha will participate in a 6-on-6 futsal match against a team of Maziya players. The Vice President of the Maldives, Hussain Mohamed Latheef, will join the legend along with the winners of the “Play Futsal with Jay-Jay Okocha” social media contest.
3. PSG Academy: Ooredoo Maldives will host two training sessions of the PSG Academy in the Maldives for young footballers, featuring two PSG Academy Coaches from Qatar.
4. Fun Run: Jay-Jay Okocha will travel to Laamu Atoll to participate in the Ooredoo Maldives Fun Run – Laamu Edition on 5th July. This event, dubbed the happiest run in the Maldives, is an untimed 5km run with foam, colour, and obstacle stations for participants’ enjoyment.
