PLAYER PROFILE

Aaron Mokoena

Position: Midfield

Height: 6'1

Weight: 12st 4lbs

Date of Birth: 1980-11-25 Johannesburg, South Africa

Aaron Mokoena

South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena completed a £300,000 move from Genk to Blackburn Rovers in January 2005.

The 24-year-old defender agreed the switch before Christmas after impressing during a trial spell at Ewood Park, but had to wait until the transfer window opened to formalise the deal.

"I am very excited at the prospect of the opportunity of playing in the English Premiership," Mokoena told the club's official website.

"It feels right for me, it will be great experience and, at 24, I felt right for the challenge it presents. It's a dream come true.

"My first priority is to try to get into the first team. There is a big personal challenge ahead for me, but it's really exciting."

By the tender age of 24, Mokoena had earned over 25 caps for South Africa and features regularly in the side after displacing Leeds United star Lucas Radebe as skipper shortly before the 2002 World Cup.

His first five months at Ewood Park proved to be a great succes as he made 22 appearances. However, he, and the Blackburn team as a whole, came under fire from some sections of the media for their tough tackling (he is nicknamed 'Axe' after all).

Mokoena was unaffected though as he made 26 appearances for his side in the 05/06 season, proving to be a valuable memeber of Hughes' impressive squad. This success continuned into 2006/07 as he scored once in 27 starts.