Charles Taylor, a revered former Ghana international, has ignited a heated debate about age falsification in Ghanaian football.
In a recent interview on Angel TV, Taylor revealed that he was 20 years old when he represented Ghana at the U-17 level, sparking concerns about the authenticity of youth competitions.
“Any child who claims to be under 15 cannot kick a football,” Taylor stated emphatically, dismissing claims of exceptionally young players participating in official youth teams.
Despite the current presence of a U-15 team in camp, Taylor remained firm in his stance, emphasizing that many players may be much older than their listed ages.
Taylor alleged that players often falsify their ages to gain opportunities abroad, stating, “No player can truthfully say that when he played for the U-17s, he was indeed under 17.”
He shared a personal anecdote, saying, “They were taking him to the U.S., claiming he was under 20 when he was actually 25.”
The former Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko star’s revelations come amidst growing concerns over the fairness and authenticity of youth competitions in Ghana. With a decorated career spanning 41 caps and 19 goals for the Black Stars, Taylor’s concerns carry significant weight.