WELL-KNOWN NIGERIAN footballer Taribo West is around 12 years older than he’s let on throughout his journeyman career, according to one former club president.
West played for the likes of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Derby County as well featuring at two World Cups for the Super Eagles.
West is supposed to be 39 years old today but ex-Partizan Belgrade chief, Zarko Zecevic, reckons the defender is at least 50.
“He joined us saying he was 28. We only later found out he was 40, but he was still playing well so I don’t regret having him on the team,”’ Zecevic said. Croatian newspapers also claim West later joined Rijeka saying he was 32 when he was actually 44.
Very good Colm, I snigg ered out loud at that one. Was not allowed type the full word without space due to offensive language content- come on score thats going a bit far now!
I heard reports that because many African players come from villages etc where there is no birth certificate system like in Ireland/UK that’s why ages are all over the place. African teams tend to do better at underage international events of the back of this, as the players are bigger and stronger.
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Well done my son. Just shows you age is only a number.
so when he was born,he was actually 12?
Very good Colm, I snigg ered out loud at that one. Was not allowed type the full word without space due to offensive language content- come on score thats going a bit far now!
The exact opposite is happening at The Rangers FC (Est 2012). They are claiming to be 100+ when they are, in fact. 1
Great story. The African teams at the underage World Cups are always fairly ‘developed’ looking.
Championship Manager legend!
Agree, great free transfer option at the start of the game one year, him and Ibrahim Ba
I always remember Obafemi Martins playing for Inter or Newcastle looked about 40 or so. Not quite in his mid twenties as he suggested.
‘Inter Milan, AC Milan and Derby County..’ Not a list of clubs you expect to see in the same sentence all that often
Jamie carragher openly laughed when he first met Rigobert Song and was told his age. Song was ment to be bout 7 years older than he let on
I heard reports that because many African players come from villages etc where there is no birth certificate system like in Ireland/UK that’s why ages are all over the place. African teams tend to do better at underage international events of the back of this, as the players are bigger and stronger.