‘I would be happy’ – Bundesliga goal-of-the-season contender delighted with Austin Okocha comparison

Almost three decades after scoring one of the finest Bundesliga goals in history, the Nigerian legend is still highly spoken of in Germany

VFL Bochum attacker Gerrit Holtmann has expressed delight that his excellent strike against Mainz last weekend is drawing a comparison with Austin Okocha’s wonder goal for Eintracht Frankfurt 28 years ago. 

Holtmann evoked memories of that memorable Okocha goal against goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and the entire Karlsruher SC defence when he grabbed the opening goal for Bremen on August 21st.

The 26-year-old got tongues waggling inside the Vonovia Ruhrstadion when he went on a solo run, dribbling past a few defenders before shooting the ball through the legs of Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner in the 21st minute.

It was a goal similar in make-up to the one Okocha wrought in 1993. The former Super Eagles skipper danced past three Karlsruher defenders and goalkeeper Kahn before slotting the ball into the net.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is in no doubt that it remains the greatest goal in Bundesliga history.

And German star Holtmann is proud to have created enough magic to be compared with Nigeria’s greatest ever football magician.

“You admired it as a child,” Holtmann told Bundesliga.com, recalling Okocha’s goal, scored two years before the Bremen star was born. 

“He (Okocha) went through (the defenders) as if they were only flagpoles. I would be happy if my goal was compared with it.”

Okocha would score many other fantastic goals for PSG, Fenerbahce, Bolton Wanderers, and the Nigerian national team, among others, before calling time on a successful football career.