Adam Yakubu: Talented Nigerian footballer with unrealized potential joins AS Trencin

In recent years, the practice of bringing young players into men’s professional football has gained a lot of traction. However, this trend is not without its challenges and difficulties. Some players simply lack the maturity to take on such responsibilities at a young age. Adams Yakubu exemplifies the potential drawbacks of this type of premature promotion of young players, which can lead to career setbacks.

Popularly known as Kolade, Adams Yakubu experienced accelerated physical development at a very young age, allowing him to compete with older players at just 14 years old and standing at 1.80 metres tall. By the age of 16, the lanky midfielder had already secured a place in Adamawa FC’s first team, due to his exceptional passing skills and goalscoring prowess.

Despite his talent, it became apparent that Yakubu was not yet fully prepared for the rigours of elite men’s football. Although he received call-ups to the Nigerian national under-20 team and subsequently to the Olympic Eagles’ training camp in 2022, he unfortunately faced elimination during the final stages of team selection.

Yakubu, who hails from Jos, received his early football training at the popular grassroots club GBS academy. Coach Bros, the head of operations at the academy, played a pivotal role in Yakubu’s development. When Coach Bros was later appointed as the technical director of Plateau United, it facilitated a new opportunity for Yakubu. Recognising Yakubu’s potential, Coach Bros moved him to the defensive midfielder position.

As usual, Yakubu showed promising passing ability as he adjusted to this new role, but lacked the physical strength to excel in such a demanding position. He finished the season with two goals and three assists, notably against Rivers United and Enyimba FC respectively in January 2024.

Yakubu’s potential move to Slovakia’s AS Trencin represents a notable opportunity for his footballing development, although it has yet to be officially confirmed. While it is not known whether he will be able to recapture the potential he showed early in his career, implementing a tailored training regime with a specific focus on strength training could result in a player comparable to Yaya Touré in terms of performance and ability.