Okocha and Mikel Share Stories Behind Name Changes

On the Obi One Podcast, former Super Eagles captains Jay Jay Okocha and John Obi Mikel shared the stories behind their name changes. Okocha revealed that he became known as "Jay Jay" due to a nickname given by his younger brother, James, while playing street football.

He explained that in his neighborhood, to differentiate between players named Austin, he was referred to as "Austin Jay Jay's brother." The name stuck, and he later adopted it officially, even including it in his passport. Mikel recounted that during the Under-17 tournament, he submitted his name as "Michael," but it was printed as "Mikel" on his shirt.

He felt that "Mikel" sounded better and decided to keep it, also adding it to his passport. Both players emphasized the significance of their names in their football journeys.