Age Cheats

Watching these boys play football, one gets the impression that something is wrong somewhere. They neither play nor behave like 16 year olds. So no one is surprised at the allegations of over aged boys making the starting 11 of most of the competing teams. Some of them have even grown beards all over their faces.It is beginning to look like Politicians who cry foul when they are out-rigged!

Ordinarily, Adokiye Amiesimaka is a very patriotic Nigerian. He loves this country more than many of us. He played football at the highest level and made a name in the game. Today he is not a hungry man because he has a flourishing legal practice. So when someone like him bares his chest and informs the world that Nigerian U-17 Captain, Fortune Chukwudi played as an 18 year old seven years ago then something is very wrong somewhere. The implication is that Fortune is not just marginally over-aged at the U-17 pack but a 25 year old adult. I am not amused.

The reaction of the Nigerian Football authorities is that Fortune Chukwudi passed the prescribed age test, not once but twice! If there were no lingering doubts about his age (and size) why did he have to be subjected to the test twice? Not to worry. Since Fortune has a certified age test result over and above his birth certificate which indicates that he is under 17, why all the fuss? May be the authorities should email a copy of Fortune’s certificates to Adokiye for keeps. He sure may need them for his practice.

For now, Fortune Chukwudi is a legitimate U-17 Captain of the Nigerian Golden Eaglets at the brink of conquering the World, one more time, God willing.

Tata, everybody

Napoleon.