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Yakubu is 27... Really???
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Over here in The States, Major League Baseball is having a problem with Latin American prospects using fraudulent birth certificates to appear younger than they actually are. These players/propects lie about their age to enhance their value in contract negotiations. An 18-year-old who plays with the skill and maturity of a 25-year-old is more valuable and has more potential.
So, my question is, is this a problem in English football? Or for that matter, the entirety of Europe, with players from African or any where else?
The reason I'm curious about this is because I recently became aware that Yakubu is 27. He looks more like early to mid 30s to me. I know he's been injured, but it may explain his poor form lately. He's closer to the end of his professional career than the beginning...
Caio Jenks, Posted 28/03/2010 at 22:56:38
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This comes up again and again. Moyes made it quite clear a couple of years ago he didn't 100% believe his age when he said something like "He is 25, Albeit a Nigerian 25". I remember he got himself in hot water for that.....
Whatever his chronological age - and we really do have to accept his birth certificate there is no doubt that physically he looks older. Folk do age at different rates - it's an advantage at the start of your career to be 'physically older' but can be a curse at the end of it when you want to go on. I still reckon the lad can give us another two or three seasons of decent service though....
Whatever his chronological age - and we really do have to accept his birth certificate there is no doubt that physically he looks older. Folk do age at different rates - it's an advantage at the start of your career to be 'physically older' but can be a curse at the end of it when you want to go on. I still reckon the lad can give us another two or three seasons of decent service though....
Peter,
Oh the Nigerian authorities got into a strop when their record-keeping abilities are challenged - deary me it must be true then - the Yak is only 27!!
There is no endemic fraud arising from Nigeria - all the scam emails pretending to be my friend and will givee me £££££££s once I give them my bank account must be a figment of my imagination as well.
Forget the image they want to portray - these African countries are third world countries trying to be something they aren't and the more they jump uop and down about something then the more they have to hide.
Yak is 27 — my arse, lol!
Oh the Nigerian authorities got into a strop when their record-keeping abilities are challenged - deary me it must be true then - the Yak is only 27!!
There is no endemic fraud arising from Nigeria - all the scam emails pretending to be my friend and will givee me £££££££s once I give them my bank account must be a figment of my imagination as well.
Forget the image they want to portray - these African countries are third world countries trying to be something they aren't and the more they jump uop and down about something then the more they have to hide.
Yak is 27 — my arse, lol!
I've spoken about this to a Nigerian pal of mine. He informed me that the actual day a person is registered as a citizen, is usually the day given as their birth day, to officialdom.
He also laughs at the notion of The Yak being 27 years old!!
He also laughs at the notion of The Yak being 27 years old!!
27 or 37, I couldn't give a hoot, as long as he gets back to full fitness and bangs them in like we know he can, he will do for me.
He is closer to 27 stone. How long could it take for a player of that age to get his sharpness back? Not trying or not bothered more like.
I can't even believe this thread is taking place.
Without a doubt Ian he's taking longer than Arteta and Jags to regain sharpness, but it must be remembered it wasn't so long ago that this type of injury would've finished a player's career, but it still is a serious injury and some players never recover their pre-injury form.
Mike Byrne
Are you telling me that that very nice chap, a Nigerian Prince, no less, is part of a scam? Surely not, he said he'd look after all my money and not charge me a penny, so I gave it to him. His next e-mail came from the Bahamas. Is that in Nigeria?
Are you telling me that that very nice chap, a Nigerian Prince, no less, is part of a scam? Surely not, he said he'd look after all my money and not charge me a penny, so I gave it to him. His next e-mail came from the Bahamas. Is that in Nigeria?
The fact Yakubu's achilles snapped is a sign of his age. Look at Beckham and that Hreidesson (the Portsmouth fella), both in their mid to late 30s and both snapped achilles. This happens to people when they get older because they lose elasticity in their tendons. It's often referred to as a 'middle aged woman running for a bus injury'. Now I'm not saying Yakubu is a woman.
Yeah 27 he is... with 10 years experience!
Not one of the most PC of the threads we have had on here to date. So far we have had ageism, sexism, fatism, third worldism. And Yakubu seems to be going bald as well.
And Tony, I do believe that this Yakubu chap is not from good old Blighty either.
Tony J – until I saw your spelling, old boy, I thought he’d been at Eton, and was called “Yah Boo” not “Yakubu”
Almost certainly not really.
Here's a link to the Moyes' story from a couple of years ago:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7260868.stm
And here's one by an African journalist who makes reference to it on the subject of African ages in general:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8367268.stm
The story I remember, though I may have the players concerned wrong, was that Celestine Babayaro and Obafemi Martins played for the same U-17 team and a few years later one of them was 23 and the other was 28.
Here's a link to the Moyes' story from a couple of years ago:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7260868.stm
And here's one by an African journalist who makes reference to it on the subject of African ages in general:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8367268.stm
The story I remember, though I may have the players concerned wrong, was that Celestine Babayaro and Obafemi Martins played for the same U-17 team and a few years later one of them was 23 and the other was 28.
What's so un-PC about this thread? The fact is that there is an issue with ages of African players. It's acknowldged within Africa. It's just a fact. Simple as that.
Maybe the Yak comes from that country in Africa where its still the 70s, or am I getting mixed up with St Helens!
There you go, Tony — a bit Woolybackism to go with the others...
There you go, Tony — a bit Woolybackism to go with the others...
I might be way off on this but the life expectancy in Nigeria is only 48 according to Unicef (I checked). He must have lived there til his late teens (almost half the life expectancy) at least and so would have aged more up to that point? Even if that process slowed down since he moved to Britain, I woud still imagine he would look older at 27 than someone who grew up in a first world country...
There is also apparently a problem with some Brazilians who grow up in such poverty that their bone structure is weak and, when they try to bulk up when they become professionals or move to Europe, they get injuries because their frame can't cope with the extra weight. Rivaldo suffered from this apparently.
Either way, it probably shows that it is all the more impressive to make it in the Premier League coming from third world countries with these kind of problems.
There is also apparently a problem with some Brazilians who grow up in such poverty that their bone structure is weak and, when they try to bulk up when they become professionals or move to Europe, they get injuries because their frame can't cope with the extra weight. Rivaldo suffered from this apparently.
Either way, it probably shows that it is all the more impressive to make it in the Premier League coming from third world countries with these kind of problems.
Surely (I don't know how to say this as you wil see) but with all the biological tests/technology we have these days (also these clubs have the best doctors, surgeons, physicians etc) then they must put these players through tests, blood tests etc, hair strands, that can actually provide an answer to somebody's age.....???
Maybe someone in this field can answer this for me.
Maybe someone in this field can answer this for me.
Cut him in half and count the rings you mean?
Lol... not quite. Just thought you may be able to get an idea!
Although he is built like a Tree!
Ben
That was a cracker.
I reckon he's got more rings than Moyes.
That was a cracker.
I reckon he's got more rings than Moyes.
According to Rothmans 2009-2010 (and all the back issues since he's been in the UK) the Yak's D.O.B. is down as 22-11-82, which does indeed make him 27.....
He started his career at Gil Vicente in 1999/2000, which would make him 17 at the time.... which might add up...
Could it be possible.... could we look forward to another 5 years+ of the Yak.....?
He started his career at Gil Vicente in 1999/2000, which would make him 17 at the time.... which might add up...
Could it be possible.... could we look forward to another 5 years+ of the Yak.....?
Remember Ravenelli for Boro? He looked like my great grandad by the age of 29... Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and John Oster still look like they should be at school.
Looks can be deceiving... but then again, so can Nigerian officials.
Looks can be deceiving... but then again, so can Nigerian officials.
Mike Byrne: Eh, ya what?? Doth you suggest there may be a bit of corruption knocking about down in the African continent?? Not like good old Blighty what with the unquestionable ethics and morals of offcialdom then?? Deary dear, what has the world come to old chap!?
My reckoning is more based on Davey Moyes making a tongue-in-cheek remark. I don't believe wily Davey Moyes would spunk a huge chunk of a limited transfer budget on an old pro trading on former glories, with no sell-on potential a year or two down the road.
My belief is that, as with Big Vic, many Nigerians have a big physical frame and develop early enough to have the physical capacity to compete in top level footy by around age 17. As was the case with the Yak.
Arteta and Jags both had severe knee injuries which, whilst career threatening, have a very different recovery profile when back in action. Whilst no medical expert, I believe the achilles tendon is a tendon with a long timeframe to full recovery, even when back in use. I also believe it is very important in sprinting, which is a key element of the Yak's game.
He's getting nearer each game though, so... Feed the Yak and he will score. COYB!
Tis true, looks can be decieving!
Can I pose and alternative question?
Who looks older, Wayne Rooney or the Yak?!? You'd expect to find the pair of them hanging around over-30's bars...
Can I pose and alternative question?
Who looks older, Wayne Rooney or the Yak?!? You'd expect to find the pair of them hanging around over-30's bars...
Like it Andy.... Rooney certainly checks out the 'Very over 30's women'
Dan Walshe,
If the average life-span in Nigeria is 48 it's probably got more to do with the fact that young people there are likely to have their heads blown off or in some other way 'disappeared' once they break out of their teens. That brings the average age at death down. It's second only to Somalia for tribal/sectarian civil warfare.
The Yak looks older than he is because he's got no neck: he is the same width all the way down and his legs only reach his knees. Otherwise he's a perfectly normal (young) man. My missus calls him Umpahlumpah (is that how you spell it?) after other people of his build in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.
If the average life-span in Nigeria is 48 it's probably got more to do with the fact that young people there are likely to have their heads blown off or in some other way 'disappeared' once they break out of their teens. That brings the average age at death down. It's second only to Somalia for tribal/sectarian civil warfare.
The Yak looks older than he is because he's got no neck: he is the same width all the way down and his legs only reach his knees. Otherwise he's a perfectly normal (young) man. My missus calls him Umpahlumpah (is that how you spell it?) after other people of his build in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.
....as for Rooney, he looks older than his own dad.
Didn't Moyes once comment that Yakubu was an 'African 20-something'. I think he got into trouble for that.
If Moyes isn't sure on Yakubu's age then you know something is up.
I would guess Yakubu is 34 or 35.
If Moyes isn't sure on Yakubu's age then you know something is up.
I would guess Yakubu is 34 or 35.
Amokachi was 22 when he joined us.....He must have had a very hard paper round
A peper round including a block of flats with no lift !!
It's Hibbert's fault
I'm glad someone had the bottle to tell the truth Stewart.
If the life expectancy in Nigeria is 48. The Yak has a good 5 or 6 years left on this planet. I think he should be buried in the corner near the Park stand when he pops it. Start a rumour to the younger players this is what will happen if you don't perform.
It's also interesting to see EFCs side note in the appearances pages of the matchday program. Where everyone else has total career apps and goals, there is the following side note by the Yak's:
"*Yakubu's total career appearances and goals cannot be verified".
"*Yakubu's total career appearances and goals cannot be verified".
He's got good teeth.
There is no way on this Earth that he's 27. I cannot believe it. No, I REFUSE to believe it.
He honestly resembles the Nutty Professor. If only we could get some of that potion and force feed him, maybe then he'll be at the fitness of a Premier League player.
He honestly resembles the Nutty Professor. If only we could get some of that potion and force feed him, maybe then he'll be at the fitness of a Premier League player.
Sorry, but I think Yakubu looks about 27. He is built like a shithouse but his face doesn't look as old as some are suggesting.
You never know, he might be under 27....
According to his Wikipedia page Yakubu's career looks like this:
1982 - Born
1995 - Gateway (Age 13)
1998 - Gil Vicente (Age 16)
1999 - Maccabi Haifa (Age 17)
2002 - Portsmouth (Age 20)
2005 - Middlesbough (Age 23)
2007 - Everton (Age 25)
We'll never know for sure his correct age because African records are not as reliable as they should be.
But let's say he's 27. That way we'll get more money for him when we sell him in the summer.
1982 - Born
1995 - Gateway (Age 13)
1998 - Gil Vicente (Age 16)
1999 - Maccabi Haifa (Age 17)
2002 - Portsmouth (Age 20)
2005 - Middlesbough (Age 23)
2007 - Everton (Age 25)
We'll never know for sure his correct age because African records are not as reliable as they should be.
But let's say he's 27. That way we'll get more money for him when we sell him in the summer.
Even if he was 35, Yakubu is still a better striker then Jo.
Was Jo the most pants striker to play for Everton in the Moyes era? I think he was.
Was Jo the most pants striker to play for Everton in the Moyes era? I think he was.
Liverpool signed Rigobert Song from the Cameroon; he was supposed to be 24 but his 13-yeqr-old daughter went to school with my daughter. He is now supposed to be 34 but look at the pic on his Wikipedia page — he looks at least 45.
So when the Yak scored 21 goals, he was 33? Do you really believe that?
Why has he improved at Everton rather then get worse (if not for the injury...). Sure he would have been at his best when at Pompey as he would have been in his prime then, but his best season was when at Everton?
People say the same about Kanu, but Kanu is now 33. If rumours are to be believe he's more like 42. Well, that makes him one hell of an athlete, to still be competing into his 40s.
There have been issues with agents saying players are younger, and exploiting the unreliable paperwork. However, this is with low-quality players, say an average 24/25 year old is 17 and he looks like a promising youngster. These players never make it to the Premier League. Yakubu has 63 + obvious talent, and it wasn't necessary for his career to lie about his age.
I heard many people talk about Obafemi Martins being in the same youth team as Babayaro. It has been said many times, but never have I been shown any proof of this, no documents showing the teamsheets, dates etc. Most of it is just internet gossip, most of it is untrue.
I've heard other people say the Rigobert Song one too, same story, although its usually 'my mate's daughter' Song is still a professional footballer. How old are you suggesting he his?
Why has he improved at Everton rather then get worse (if not for the injury...). Sure he would have been at his best when at Pompey as he would have been in his prime then, but his best season was when at Everton?
People say the same about Kanu, but Kanu is now 33. If rumours are to be believe he's more like 42. Well, that makes him one hell of an athlete, to still be competing into his 40s.
There have been issues with agents saying players are younger, and exploiting the unreliable paperwork. However, this is with low-quality players, say an average 24/25 year old is 17 and he looks like a promising youngster. These players never make it to the Premier League. Yakubu has 63 + obvious talent, and it wasn't necessary for his career to lie about his age.
I heard many people talk about Obafemi Martins being in the same youth team as Babayaro. It has been said many times, but never have I been shown any proof of this, no documents showing the teamsheets, dates etc. Most of it is just internet gossip, most of it is untrue.
I've heard other people say the Rigobert Song one too, same story, although its usually 'my mate's daughter' Song is still a professional footballer. How old are you suggesting he his?
Isnt big Nwanko kanu like 37 or sumthin. that makes him early 40ies... Theres still life in the ol yak just yet
Chris McC
When I was a lad, the phrase was 'built like a brick shithouse', and I'll go along with that in relation to our Yak.
He's either with us for a couple of years on the road to victory, or he's out of Davey's squad and will be sold - for how much will not be an issue - so this one resolves itself either way.
When I was a lad, the phrase was 'built like a brick shithouse', and I'll go along with that in relation to our Yak.
He's either with us for a couple of years on the road to victory, or he's out of Davey's squad and will be sold - for how much will not be an issue - so this one resolves itself either way.
Keith
Your way seems less derogatory so i'll go with 'brick shithouse' from now on.
Lets hope he sticks around for a while. Plenty of goals left the big man yet.
Your way seems less derogatory so i'll go with 'brick shithouse' from now on.
Lets hope he sticks around for a while. Plenty of goals left the big man yet.
ps - I'm not much of a follower of cricket, but I know the Basil D'Oliveira story. As a 'Cape Coloured' under apartheid he could never play for South Africa, although he captained their niet-blancs team, also, I think at football.
John Arlott took up his cause. He played pro cricket in Lancashire, then for Worcester, became a Brit citizen, and was eventually selected for England's test tour to South Afrikaa (66?). They cancelled - niet blacks here.
The beginning of the end for the most racist regime since the Third Reich.
Point is - he lied about his age. Just to get the chance to play. Perhaps not quite so important in cricket you might say. Well how important is it in football? What counts is the short sprint time in training, weight to power ratio, stamina, desire and ability to play the game.
The Brick Shithouse looks like a winner to me.
John Arlott took up his cause. He played pro cricket in Lancashire, then for Worcester, became a Brit citizen, and was eventually selected for England's test tour to South Afrikaa (66?). They cancelled - niet blacks here.
The beginning of the end for the most racist regime since the Third Reich.
Point is - he lied about his age. Just to get the chance to play. Perhaps not quite so important in cricket you might say. Well how important is it in football? What counts is the short sprint time in training, weight to power ratio, stamina, desire and ability to play the game.
The Brick Shithouse looks like a winner to me.
Chris - do you think we've got something going here?
Duncan McDine
That's the funniest post I have seen in a while; a classic.
That's the funniest post I have seen in a while; a classic.
Found this in my spam folder from a few years ago, could be related ?
Mr name is Rev Yakubu, I have a son who is very talented at football, he
can be lazy at times, but if you can deposit 40,000 pounds into my bank account once a week,
then I will send him over. He has been top scorer in our league for the past 28 years.
He is losing his hair, is slightly overweight... but is only 25 years old.
Please send me your full address of where he needs to play.
Thanks :-)
Mr name is Rev Yakubu, I have a son who is very talented at football, he
can be lazy at times, but if you can deposit 40,000 pounds into my bank account once a week,
then I will send him over. He has been top scorer in our league for the past 28 years.
He is losing his hair, is slightly overweight... but is only 25 years old.
Please send me your full address of where he needs to play.
Thanks :-)
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1 Posted 29/03/2010 at 06:11:57
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His snapped Achilles injury is the reason why he is still not fully firing, as it takes so long to get the full functionality back even after returning to playing. Yak's powerful burst of pace is coming back and with a full pre-season as well I think he could be on far come August. His injury and other injury issues and new players bedding in period have meant this season has been well below what is realistically possible next year.
Given Felli will hopefully be back and firing in early season, Heitinga and Distin properly bedded in, Jags back to his best, Arteta back and firing. Rodwell fresh and ready to continue the realisation of his undoubted top class potential, plus hopefully Pienaar either re-signed or sold for big bucks if he does not want to stay to finance a couple of pacy, skillful replacements. All considered, plenty of reasons to be cheerful about next season.