Iwobi: I want to be a role model like Okocha

Alex Iwobi has said he wants to emulate his uncle Austin Jay Jay Okocha by becoming a role model for upcoming footballers.

Okocha light up the Premier League during his time with Bolton Wanderers.

The former Super Eagles captain also dazzled on the international scene playing a key role in the side that conquered the continent at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

Okocha is today regarded as one of the finest footballers to have come out of Africa.

Iwobi on his part has been impressive for Everton this season.

The versatile midfielder has overcome a difficult start to his career at the Goodison Park and flourished under Frank Lampard.

The Everton star is aware that a few youngsters are looking up to him presently, and he is hoping he could inspire the next generation the way Okocha spurred him on to greater heights.

“He (Okocha) was an entertaining player to watch, and the skills he used to do were outrageous skills that you only really see freestylers do, “Iwobi told the Independent.

“So, yeah, hopefully the younger viewers will learn a bit more about him and understand why I chuck in some skills too.

I mean, that’s what kids want to see, you know – people having fun. He was a fun guy to watch.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m just that same kid that wants to express myself and play football, but when I do realise that ‘Wow, I have an influence on kids’. It’s mad. I just want to put positive things out there for them.

“It’s nice that kids look up to me and try to imitate me and play like me because I was once that kid who used to look up to my uncle.”