defender Taribo West has
been accused of serious age
fraud by some of the clubs
he played for during his
professional career in
Europe. A Daily Mail
(Mail Online) of England
publication on Wednesday
attributed the statement to
ex-president of Partizan
Belgrade, Zarko Zecevic.
The former Nigeria centre
half, now retired, joined
Serbian team Partizan
Belgrade in 2002 after
leaving Derby County and
told club bosses he was 28
when he was actually 40,
the paper reported.
Zecevic, has accused him of
lying, saying the former
defender with Derby
County, Plymouth and
Inter Milan was lying
about his age while
insisting that Taribo was
actually 40.
Zecevic said, "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."
But according to the
Croatian media, the
former defender known
for his colourful
hairstyles also lied when
trying to join Croatia's
Rijeka club. At the age of
44, they said Taribo told
club doctors he was only 32.
It was only after an
examination that the
doctors raised suspicions
with the club because
Taribo's knees suggested he
was older.
He wasn't signed to the
team but later joined
Plymouth and then
Iranian side Paykan FC,
where he ended his career
at the age of 46 in 2008.
The retired player, who
now works as a pastor in
the ministry he started as
a player, told The PUNCH
on the telephone on
Wednesday that it is very
suggestive that such matter
would be coming up about
10 years after he left that
team.
"I don't really know what
they are talking about
and that's why I don't
really have anything
much to say. But it is
curious that they are
raising such matter about
10 years after I left the
place. Why was the matter
not raised while I was
there? Why talk about it
long after I retired from
the game," Taribo said.
Age-cheating has been a
serious issue in Nigerian
football especially since
the world football
governing body FIFA
introduced age-grade
competitions. Even though
some of the foreign clubs
have treated some of the
country's players with
suspicions, this is the first
bold and direct accusation
made against a Nigerian
player.
It was not immediately
clear under what
circumstance or forum
that Mr. Zecevic raised the
matter.
| Posted: at | |
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