Grassroots Football: Irony Of Age Cheating

By Coach Uni Dan Kakwi

The game of football has become an irreplaceable part of many people’s lives, whether as players, spectators (in stadiums or at home), those who bet, organizing bodies, service providers.

One way or the other, more than half of the world population is involved with football; and, with the intrigues and all, they all love it. However, the dent of dishonesty on this beautiful, world-unifying activity that comes from age cheating has become so much of a problem that raises serious concern.

For us Africans, the shame and stain have overpowered our laundry skills: owing to grassroots policies and win by all means syndrome -we keep struggling to wash it off. To concede, the players themselves reserve the exclusive rights to tell the world when they are born so whatsoever they call themselves is what we take from them. Many footballers enjoy claiming ages that do not actually tally with their chronological ages. They find one or two reasons to necessitate a reduction in age, even when it seems almost unnecessary for them to embark on such ride on dishonesty.

It is generally believed that African footballers lie about their ages, leading to the different age fabrication controversies in football. In fact, almost every African footballer’s age is subjected to probes before taken to be true. And for those who are guilty of this lie, regardless of their appearances (facial looks and body structure) saying something different, they will still uphold they’re being younger in age. It is not only a questionable act but a pure lack of honesty for one to claim what one is not.

Ever wondered why African teams tend to perform better at FIFA youth levels compared to how well they perform at the highest level? I mean, who does not know that African teams hardly miss success at U-17 and U-20 levels? For example, African sides have won 7 of the last 17 FIFA u-17 World Cup editions (Nigeria 5 and Ghana 2); to add to that success, Nigeria has won it more than any other country in the world! However, no single African team has ever made it as far as getting to the semi-finals in a full World Cup –you would want to ask why this same Nigeria, after having skillful players who would win the U-17 cups never made it to the main World Cup Quatre-Final: what happened to the players? The last time an African team came close to being in the semis at the main World Cup, they got their luck smashed against the woodwork

What is the way forward…? Share your views!