When Nigerian international Yakubu Aiyegbeni signed for Coventry City a fortnight ago, their manager Russell Slade genuinely believed the 34-year-old veteran
would propel them to safety in League One.
‘Yakubu brings vast experience and a terrific goal record,’ Slade gushed. ‘His professional
career speaks for itself, having scored consistently at the highest level of English football.’
Unfortunately, the reality appears to be rather different. A two-and-a-half minute clip of Yakubu in action for Coventry during
their 3-1 loss to Swindon on Saturday went viral on social media for all the wrong
reasons.
The video shows ‘The Yak’ loitering around on the half-way line as the play continues at
pace around him. The Nigerian appears in a daze as he wanders aimlessly around, showing little to no interest in chasing the play.
At one point, a team-mate remonstrates with him for the lack of effort, but Yakubu
appears completely unmoved.
The clip, by Coventry fan CJ Joiner, was retweeted hundreds of times, with some describing it as ’embarrassing’.
Coventry are rock bottom of League One, 11 points adrift of safety, after the Swindon
loss Yakubu came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining with Coventry trailing 2-0 thanks
to goals from Nicky Ajose and Jonathan Obika in the first-half.
The Sky Blues conceded a third, against from Ajose, within seconds of Yakubu joining the fray, though they did gain a stoppage time
consolation via George Thomas. Strong indications abound that the technical crew may be asked the former Portsmouth star to
train harder as there are insinuations that he is on the heavy side.
