In the estimation of football enthusiasts, Yakubu Aiyegbeni is in China to collect his retirement pay, but for Guangzhou R&F officials he is the hero that will transport them to greater football achievement in the Asian continent.

The out of favour Eagles’ striker followed in the footsteps of European Champions League winner, Didier Drogba and his former Chelsea mate Nicholas Anelka to signing a lucrative deal in China and according to Guangzhou vice president Lu Yi, it was all Yakubu’s goal scoring goals that will keep the club afloat.

“The most important Yakubu has been our first choice, we believe he can be more successful than Drogba in China,” Lu said.

Yakubu, 29, admitted that football in China was strange to him however, he is ready to give it his best shot just like he did when he played for Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn his last club in England. “To be frank, I hadn’t watched a single game of Chinese league in England, but recently it has been a hot topic since the acquisition of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Droba,” Yakubu said.

Yakbu said he is confident to became the top scorer of the Chinese super league although this season is halfway.

“I will score at least 15 goals for the club, even though I only got 15-20 games to play this season,” he said.