
Madrid has always been an amazing city to visit. I’ve been here several times, and my regular base is usually the Eurostars Madrid. This time, I came for the World Football Summit, Madrid 2025, and of course, I lodged at the same place.
The gala night before the summit was packed with top football figures, investors, and industry professionals. The room buzzed with conversation and laughter. Once I was introduced as the Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, a few curious guests started to ask questions about Nigerian football and the league.
Then one Japanese gentleman from the J-League leaned forward and asked, “Do you know Jay-Jay Okocha?”
I smiled and said, “Jay-Jay? That’s my close friend.”
Their faces lit up. I jokingly added, “I would have called him now so you can talk to him, but it’s already past 11 p.m. in Nigeria.”
Before I could even take another bite of my food, a Turkish guy at the table jumped in. “You should still try! Please call him!”
I laughed and said, “Let me finish my meal first,” but they wouldn’t let me be. So, to keep my sanity, I picked up my phone and dialed Jay-Jay’s number.
The moment they saw his WhatsApp display picture, the whole table went agog. And just like that, he answered the call.
“Ol’ boy, some people no allow me rest here o. Dem say dem wan follow you talk.”
Jay-Jay laughed, and I passed the phone around. Before I knew it, people from nearby tables had gathered, all eager to say hello to the legend himself. And that was how I, or rather my phone, became the beautiful bride to all and sundry.
I eventually had to collect my phone back, pretending it was about to die so that Jay-Jay could go to bed. But the drama didn’t end there. A Portuguese investor involved in ParaSoccer, clearly impressed that he’d just spoken with Jay-Jay, decided on his own to upgrade my hotel room. Without asking me, he moved me from a single room to a super deluxe executive suite.
All because I’m friends with Jay-Jay Okocha.
So, thanks, Jay-Jay, for making me a temporary big man in Madrid. But no thanks, because the next time I check in at my customary Eurostars Madrid room, they’ll probably look at me and say, “Sir, weren’t you in the super deluxe suite last time?”
And that, my people, is how being friends with Jay-Jay Okocha can get you both fame and unexpected trouble in Europe.
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