Super Eagles forward, Emmanuel Dennis, has expressed delight after joining Blackburn Rovers, drawing inspiration from Nigerian football legend Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Aiyegbeni, famously known as “The Yak”, was a fan favourite at Ewood Park, scoring 18 goals in 33 games during the 2011/12 Premier League season.
One of his most memorable performances was when he scored four goals in a 4-2 win over Swansea City in December 2011.
Dennis, who joined Blackburn in the January transfer window after falling out of favour at Nottingham Forest, hopes to follow in Yakubu’s footsteps and help the club return to the Premier League.
“Yakubu played here, and growing up, I watched him a lot. It’s a club I’ve been familiar with since my time in Nigeria, so I was very happy they wanted me, and I was eager to join the club,” Dennis said.
The former Watford player also praised Aiyegbeni’s impact as well as hailing him as an inspirational figure for African footballers.
Dennis cited Aiyegbeni’s scoring prowess as a remarkable achievement which has motivated him to do well at the club.
“He scored so many goals! Yakubu is a huge figure in Nigeria and African football. His contributions to the Premier League are remarkable.
Watching him inspired me because he was such a talented player,” he added.
Recall that Dennis made his debut for Blackburn Rovers in a 0-2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round last Sunday.
