The problem of determining the true age of African players has occupied the football community for many years. Regular fraud with passports has led to scandals more than once.

Another batch of indignation was caused by the transfer of the captain of the Cameroon under-23 team to a European club. Fans are simply shocked by the newcomer’s appearance!

“We see a very talented player”

The summer off-season is the time when clubs replenish their ranks with new players. The Austrian team “Altach” last season was on the verge of relegation from the local Bundesliga. Only a three-match unbeaten streak allowed the “black and white” to keep their place in the elite division.

This summer, the club’s management is very active in the transfer market. Altach has already announced the signing of contracts with five players. In a modest team, they consider the transfer of the captain of the Cameroon U23 national team, Javal Kaiba, to be a great success. The management believes in the 20-year-old African defensive midfielder: it was not without reason that he was offered a contract for three years at once.

“In Kaiba, we see a very talented player and hope for the future. At the same time, it is important for young players coming to Europe from another continent to give time for acclimatization. We will support Dzhaval in all aspects to help him fully develop, ”Altakh’s official website quotes sports director Roland Kirchler as saying.

Javal Kaiba / Photo: © Personal archive of Javal Kaiba

“It’s a 50-year-old man!”

On paper, the transfer looks very promising. The youth player of the leading African team, and also the captain … However, the photo of the football player in the club’s social networks caused a real shock to many fans.

The thing is that Javaval, even with all the desire, cannot be given 20 years. Like many Africans, the football player looks much older than the stated age. Fans immediately ran into the social networks of Altakh, who began to compete in the causticity of comments.

“He was 20 years old when I received my matriculation certificate with him in 2010,” wrote tom_22303.

My grandfather used to praise him when he was young. He said that Kaiba and Pele in midfield were a dangerous duo. A strong transfer, I hope the player will be able to prove himself,” the fan with the nickname m_oezkan joked.

“Pinocchio is his manager,” the player’s agent, pinnarafael, suspected of dishonesty.

“Damn it, it’s a 50-year-old man!” – diyr_acar707 was indignant.

“My grandfather looks younger than this player,” said rafaelalucassilvino.

“Calm down, his birthday is just in a leap year,” hannes_wttk_05 joked.

Modern technologies make it possible to determine the age of a football player with a high degree of probability. The club, of course, did not specify whether any procedures were carried out in this regard. In the end, the main thing is that the player was good.