Tag Archives: samba

The Yak on staying at Blackburn

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Yakubu has revealed he snubbed a January move to QPR because he owed it to Blackburn to stay.

Rangers wanted to buy the Nigeria striker in a double deal with Rovers defender Chris Samba to boost their relegation fight, because of the hi impressive return of 12 goals in 16 league games.

But unlike Samba, who tried to force a move away from Ewood Park, Yakubu says he never contemplated leaving – because the Lancashire club saved his career.

The 29-year-old claims it would have been wrong to go after Rovers threw him a lifeline in August when they rescued him from the wilderness at Everton.

Yakubu claims he wasn’t tempted, even though QPR owner Tony Fernandes’ bags of cash probably give the Londoners a better chance than Blackburn of staying up.

“I didn’t look at it that way,” said the player. “I’m lucky to be here. Blackburn gave me the opportunity to prove myself, so why would I want to leave?

“I decided not to go. I said, ‘I don’t want to go.’ I wanted to stay here and be part of it. I didn’t want to make any move because I’m happy here.

“They gave me the chance to play in the Premier League again. It’s great to be here. If we could just stay in the league, it would be perfect.”

Yakubu now hopes to continue his red-hot scoring streak against Rangers QPR at Ewood Park on Saturday after completing a three-match ban.

However, he says his goals are not as important as avoiding relegation.

Yakubu

Yakubu

“It’s not just about me scoring goals and if we don’t stay up, my goals will mean nothing,” he said. “The most important thing is that we stay up.

“It’s good to score goals, but the most important thing is that we stay in the Premier League.

“It’s no good trying to be happy scoring goals when you’re not winning. If you score and the team wins, you’re happier than if you score and the team doesn’t win.”


Yakubu recalls how Portsmouth stayed up in their first couple of seasons after winning ­promotion because of boss Harry Redknapp’s man-management.

“When we were struggling, we stayed up because we believed,” said the former Middlesbrough star. “If you believe that you won’t go down, then you’ll be fine. We have to believe we can turn it round.”

Rovers manager Steve Kean is delighted to have his talismanic striker back following last week’s 7-1 mauling at Arsenal and claims Yakubu is as important for him as Demba Ba is for Newcastle.

“Just look at his goals tally,” said Kean. “Newcastle have missed Demba Ba while he was away [with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations].

“Now he’s come back in again, looking sharp, and he’s made a difference. We think Yak can do the same for us.”

Garry Flitcroft on Samba

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FORMER club captain Garry Flitcroft insists Blackburn Rovers must resolve their differences with Chris Samba immediately or face a daunting task in avoiding Premier League relegation.

Samba has not been involved in any of Blackburn’s last five matches, including Saturday’s 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal, and last month spoke publicly of his desire to quit Ewood Park.

Despite a lack of first-team action, the wantaway skipper was initially included in a provisional reserve squad that hosted Carlisle United in a behind-closed-doors game yesterday.

However, the 27-year-old did not play in the match that finished 3-3 at Brockhall.

His non-appearance may suggest he is now not ready for Saturday’s crucial visit of fellow Premier League strugglers QPR, and manager Steve Kean admitted after the weekend’s loss at Arsenal that he “has no idea” whether Samba will be in his squad to take on the Hoops.

It is a situation which has left ex-Rovers skipper Flitcroft fearful for his former club, with their top-flight status under threat with little over a third of the campaign remaining.

Flitcroft suffered relegation with Blackburn back in 1999, but believes there is enough quality in this current Rovers crop to survive the drop, so long as Samba is back on the team-sheet.

“It’s got to be for the good of the club that Chris Samba is back out on the pitch,” said the 39-year-old. “It’s up to Chris and Steve Kean to sort things out.

“He’s missed the last couple of matches and it’s showing. Rovers have lacked his drive and presence throughout the entire team.

“For me, he’s one of the first names on the teamsheet. He’s got to be out there helping the younger lads.

“Fair play to some of the young lads, they’ve pushed into the first team and done quite well in difficult circumstances.

“But there’s occasions, like against Arsenal, where you need your best players and Chris comes into that category.”

Chris Samba

Chris Samba

Flitcroft added: “It shows when he plays for Blackburn that he gives everything. He’s a big presence on the pitch and in the dressing room.

“I’m sure his absence will have had a bearing on team spirit. There’s been a number of players that have left the club this season, but missing Chris on the pitch seems to be biggest blow of them all.”

Samba has been banished to the club’s reserves since insisting last month that it “will be very difficult” for him to play for Rovers again, and having submitted a transfer request that was rejected.


He accused owners Venky’s of breaking promises made to him when he signed his last contract and said the club did not meet his ambitions.

While understanding Samba’s concerns, Flitcroft believes the Congo defender must honour his contract and put his grievances to one side for the good of the club.

“I think it works two ways,” said the former midfielder, now the manager of non-league Chorley.

“When he signed his new contract, Chris said he was told that a lot of big name players were going to be bought and I can understand why he’d be upset that they’ve not come in.

“He’s thinking that once the new owners come in, that new players will arrive and the club will be heading in an upwards direction. I can see where he is coming from.

“But by the same token he’s contracted to play football for Blackburn Rovers and, no matter how he feels about things, he’s paid good money to represent the club on the football pitch.

“The captaincy is a big privilege. From my point of view, it was the greatest moment of my career to captain Rovers. I’m sure Chris Samba thinks like that as well.”