Yakubu ´too old´ for Nigeria comeback

Nigeria legend Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has spoken out against Blackburn Rovers striker Yakubu returning to the national team.

Yakubu, 29, has scored nine goals for Blackburn this season and is being considered for a recall to the Super Eagles by coach Stephen Keshi, following his absence from the squad after poor performances at the World Cup in South Africa.

But Okocha does not want to see Yakubu back in the national squad.

“It is sad that at this time of our football we are talking about bringing back Yakubu when we should be looking for fresh blood to take our game to the next level,” Okocha said.

“No doubt, Yakubu is having a good time in the EPL now, scoring regularly for Blackburn.”

“But if you ask my opinion, I would say that it is better for a coach to fail with fresh players than old ones.”

“With new ones, everyone will know the coach is rebuilding a new team and the blame will not be much even if such an experiment does not work.”

Okocha also hit out at his former team-mates turned coaches Samson Siasia and Austin Eguavoen for their failure to handle the national teams.

“They failed and their performance was a bad reflection on the competence of other local coaches,” he said.

The former Bolton midfielder also did not rule out a future coaching career.

“I said previously that I don’t want to be a football coach, but now I am seriously considering a change of heart because it would be a disservice to the next generation if I stuck to my guns not to coach,” Okocha said.