Jay Jay Okocha opens up on why he prefers English Premier League over NPFL

Super Eagles legend and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has claimed that he would rather watch the English Premier League than the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

Okocha previously played in both leagues, but he prefers to watch the Premier League ahead of the NPFL due to the attractiveness and packaging of the English topflight league.

The Nigerian football legend believes the organisers and the boards need to do a lot more in order to meet the standard of the European leagues.

According to Capitalfm, the former Super Eagles midfielder revealed this during the English Premier League Trophy Tour in Nairobi, Kenya.

"I don’t think I’d watch the Nigerian league if there is a Premier League match on the television, that is if I am being honest…because the Premier League is more attractive.

"We need to go back to the drawing board and give ourselves time and put something together that will make our leagues attractive."

The former Bolton midfielder also claimed that Africa can develop a professional and attractive league, while making reference to North African leagues and South Africa's PSL.

"Our people will fall in love with something that is attractive and well-packaged. I can take the example of South Africa…the locals there attend matches in the stadium because the league is attractive.

"There are also the North African countries where the locals go out and watch the matches.

"I think sometimes we need to copy the leagues abroad. Forget our ego, and humble ourselves and start from scratch again. We need a long-term plan to organize our leagues and make them attractive…it is not rocket science."