Is he *******s. Anyway, instead of making half arsed pretentious posts, I should actually say what I mean. I read a report by someone who was talking about Nigerians, footballers in particular, the corruption and bribery that goes on with their identity and passport process. 'Allegedly' (It'd never be confirmed) you can go to the passport office, pay 5,000 kaira for a new one or pay 7-8,000 kaira to get one with altered DoBs, the person all but confirmed players like Yakubu, Taribo West, have all done this.. in fact, West apparently was well into his 40s when he played for Plymouth. He went on to say about how Okocha, who apparently is only 37 now has his own nightclub in Nigeria and looks like a granddad! I suppose it explains why you rarely see a Nigerian player in his mid 30s (with his 'football' age) because really, hes 40 something by then and his body has given up!
Here's what I was reading in case anyones interested: Guardian News link That's someone off another forum I run. and then a friend of mine said this to me, (well along these lines) "It's true, I've got a mate with Nigerian heritage and he was saying that just everyone does it, it's normal, I think his Dad did it." Strange, yet when you think about what else goes on in that country (scams and whatnot) it sounds more believable.
Apparently it happens in countries like Brazil too, but that's down to people not actually knowing their own date of birth and what not due to growing up in the favelas, as opposed to corruption.
So Kanu must be about 72 now then! I have been told a few times that Ivorian Emmanual Eboue is 5 years older than he says and that Arsenal were even threatening bone density tests to check his age as they suspected something was wrong due to constant injury niggles
I think i read somewhere that Kanu is in his late 40's and I am sure Avrim Grant came out and said he is nearly 50 but then retracted his comment saying he was joking
Did you see the highlights of Forest Pompey? He scored and then looked like he was about to die of exhaustion
He did, and on New Years Day everybody was casting jokes around at how old/slow/useless he was... Have to say, didn't know a great deal about how big this real age and football age situation was, but found a report in the Guardian that basically just confirms all you have said, and gives some history on it. - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/21/nigerian-football-age-old-problem As for Yakubu - his Championship goal tally has its first mark.
PORTSMOUTH boss, Avram Grant, has said that Super Eagles skipper, N****wo Kanu would continue to play football until he attains the age of 51. Grant stated this after Kanu inspired Portsmouth to victory over Hull City by scoring the third goal to seal a 3-2 win last Saturday at the Fratton Park. He hailed the Nigerian international insisting that he would be of help for the Super Eagles at the World Cup in South Africa. "I think he will play until he is 51. That is in two years," Grant joked about Kanu's age. He said: "You see Kanu, he is not running as fast as before and he is not in the physical condition of before.
Haha woops - haven't had much sleep of late... my bad on that one. Good article though, worthy of being posted 2 times.
