Taribo West denies falsifying his age

Former Super Eagles defender,Taribo West,has played down reports that he falsified his age during his playing career,following the startling revelations of an ex-president to one of his former clubs.

On Wednesday, a publication on the Daily Mail (Mail Online) in England quoted ex-president of Partizan Belgrade, Zarko Zecevic,who alleged that the former Nigerian international lied about his age,telling them that he was 28,when he was actually 40.

‘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.
Also in the Croatian media,they equally alleged that Taribo lied about his age,when he tried to secure a move to Rijeka. “At the age of 44, they said West told club doctors he was only 32.”

Taribo in his own defence asked why they did not come up with such assertions,ten years ago when he was still playing active football.

“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 told The Punch

How was Taribo very competitive in the said period? Because he joined Partizan Belgrade in 2002 and he made the Super Eagles team that played at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

 If he had been actually 40 as was alleged,would he had played at such a high-level competition like the World Cup?  

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