Former Super Eagles star Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi once experienced the rarefied air of private jet ownership, a testament to his impactful career and the high regard in which he was held by his Turkish club, Besiktas. However, this luxurious chapter eventually concluded due to the stark realities of its upkeep.
The genesis of this extraordinary perk stemmed from a crucial match for Besiktas in Istanbul, a game Amokachi was in Nigeria for, tending to his ailing mother. In a demonstration of the club’s desperation for his presence, the president himself arranged for a private jet to fly to Kaduna and bring the formidable striker back.
“The president of the club tried all he could to get me back, so he had to send me a private jet which landed in Kaduna to come and pick me,” Amokachi recounted. “After several clearances in different countries, we landed in Istanbul, played the match, and won.”
The gesture didn’t end there. The club president, a young friend of Amokachi’s, inquired if he would be interested in owning such a plane. Amokachi’s affirmative response led to a connection with airline business associates in America.
“All I needed to do was have my name on the airline, and at any point, I could call the aircraft to pick me up to anywhere in the world,” Amokachi revealed. “I got in contact with them, and we got talking. At the end of the day, it was mine. It was all to the Glory of God.”
For a period, Amokachi enjoyed the unparalleled convenience and prestige of having a private jet at his disposal. However, the financial implications of maintaining such an asset soon became apparent, especially after his playing career began to wind down.
“That was why I gave it back to the company as soon as I stopped playing football because it was like suicide,” Amokachi explained, highlighting the exorbitant costs involved. “I wasn’t feeling it that much when I was making money. At least, I was sure my account would be credited on a weekly basis, but when it wasn’t coming as it used to, I had to give it back to them.”
He further elaborated on the significant expenses, stating, “Just to fly over a country to get clearance is money, to take care of it is money, to leave it overnight is money.” Amokachi acknowledged the role of divine grace in his life, adding, “Believe me, everything about me is the grace of God because if it wasn’t His grace, I’d stay without a dime. If I had left the plane, it would have been seized at the end of the day.”
Ultimately, in 2000/01, Amokachi made the pragmatic decision to relinquish ownership of the private jet through a “clean negotiation” that left all parties satisfied. This anecdote serves as a fascinating glimpse into the extraordinary privileges sometimes afforded to top-tier athletes and the often-harsh economic realities that follow their playing days. It underscores the importance of financial prudence, even amidst periods of great success.
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