Still On Taye Taiwo

**anwulika** · Apr 24, 2012 , 01:07 AM

You know how they say anything and everything is possible in Nigeria! So, one should really not be surprise when a situation like this "strange" one plays out. From what I hear, Nigeria's Super Eagles defender Taiye Taiwo just turned 25. I guess we should say congrats to him, after all I was told he's one of Nigeria's highest paid footballers.

But the problem, according to what sources told Olu Famous Blog, is that the guy's twin brother who doesn't play football, Kehinde Taiwo, recently clocked 37... If this information is true, then it's a sad reminder of what how country - Nigeria - has turned into; a place where virtually everybody tell one "small lie" or steal some "public funds" just to get ahead of others.

Nigeria sure needs help from her moral crises!

http://olufamous.blogspot.ca/2012/04...s-younger.html

.................................................. ..........................................

Medical miracle. Only in Naigeriyaaaaaaa!!!

**Stickky** · Apr 24, 2012 , 07:36 AM

Yes, it is possible. Kehinde was born 37 years ago, then daddy and mummy 'met' again and Taye was born 25 years ago. Looking at Taye at birth, they both felt he looks exactly like his 12 years elder brother and called him Taye. Do I make sense at all? May be no! heheheheheheh!

**agensheku** · Apr 24, 2012 , 08:07 AM

Anwuli,

You dont mean to say you dont know that most Nigerian footballers have two dates of Birth? The day wey dem Mama born them and the date they find agreeable to fix on their international passports.

If only they were smarter, they could have acted like Obj. When interviewed about his date of birth, he said his parents were illiterates who kept no date. He just chose a date that suited his fancy! But according to his son, Gbenga, anytime Obj saw an obituary of an old acquaintance in the newspapers, he would say: "That was my classmate o"!

And that one fit be 80 years old o! But, Obj stays "Kampe", as they say: "Old soldiers nor dey die, dey fade away", probably during congo shining! LOL

**First-lady** · Apr 25, 2012 , 02:12 AM

Eziokwu

Why did the twin do such a thing
Did he forget what age he was meant to be?
Anyway that is the Nigerian age
He is 37 at home but 25 on the job
Man wey God don bless

If that is a recent picture sha,he doesn't, look 37 to me at all
He looks 30 max

**Ajibs** · Apr 25, 2012 , 03:31 AM

I would have believed this story more save for a glaring mistake that seems to have been made.

A true football fan will know this. Taye taiwo cannot be 37 years old and still be playing top flight football. He will not be able to handle it. Just two years ago he was at the top of his game in France when Marseille won the league . So much that he was snapped up by AC Milan. They would not have paid for a 35 year old player.

So even thought he is certainly not 25, he is also not as old as 37. If I am not mistaken, Man U's Ryan Gigs almost the oldest player in the premiership is about 41 years old. As fit as he is, he rarely completes a full 90 minute game.

You cannot be 37 except in very rare situations and goalkeepers who play actively past 35 years old.

**anwulika** · Apr 25, 2012 , 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by N.A.R.

I would have believed this story more save for a glaring mistake that seems to have been made.

A true football fan will know this. Taye taiwo cannot be 37 years old and still be playing top flight football. He will not be able to handle it. Just two years ago he was at the top of his game in France when Marseille won the league . So much that he was snapped up by AC Milan. They would not have paid for a 35 year old player.

So even thought he is certainly not 25, he is also not as old as 37. If I am not mistaken, Man U's Ryan Gigs almost the oldest player in the premiership is about 41 years old. As fit as he is, he rarely completes a full 90 minute game.

You cannot be 37 except in very rare situations and goalkeepers who play actively past 35 years old.

Brother NAR,

I know a 54 year old guy that can out-run men even half his age. He competes in triathlons and is in top form. You would not believe his age unless he showed you his birth certificate and starts divulging you with tales of where he was in so and so year. Based on your using his age to determine how good/active he is only, I don't that is enough to debunk the story. I think it is very possible and very prevalent in sports...especially African athletes

.

**Ajibs** · Apr 26, 2012 , 08:59 PM

I am unsure why the admins closed the thread, i did not see any fourm violations posted. Nah wetin happen?

Anyways...

Originally Posted by N.A.R.
I would have believed this story more save for a glaring mistake that seems to have been made.

A true football fan will know this. Taye taiwo cannot be 37 years old and still be playing top flight football. He will not be able to handle it. Just two years ago he was at the top of his game in France when Marseille won the league . So much that he was snapped up by AC Milan. They would not have paid for a 35 year old player.

So even thought he is certainly not 25, he is also not as old as 37. If I am not mistaken, Man U's Ryan Gigs almost the oldest player in the premiership is about 41 years old. As fit as he is, he rarely completes a full 90 minute game.

You cannot be 37 except in very rare situations and goalkeepers who play actively past 35 years old

.
Brother NAR,

I know a 54 year old guy that can out-run men even half his age. He competes in triathlons and is in top form. You would not believe his age unless he showed you his birth certificate and starts divulging you with tales of where he was in so and so year. Based on your using his age to determine how good/active he is only, I don't that is enough to debunk the story. I think it is very possible and very prevalent in sports...especially African athletes .

Anwuli,
You are right and there are several men older that are still very competitively active. But do some reseach, runnning and playing sports, FULL CONTACT sports for that matter are very different.

Look across ALL professional sports, almost all, players are considered "old" at what age? Usually about anywhere between 38-40 years old. Check out these very tough and well respected sports men:

Pete Sampras: Retired at the age of 31

Micheal Jordan: First retirement at 35 and second and final at 40

Coming back to football...

Paolo Maldini: retired at 41 (After what is regarded as a legendary LONG career)

David Beckham moved to the US as it was said to have been "past his prime" how old was he when that was said? 32

Paul Scholes: first retired at 37 and came out of retirement this year to help Man U. If you follow him now, he rarely plays the full 90 minutes of any game.

Claude Makélelé: Retired finally at 38 at PSG

So if you note these players retire anywhere from late 30's to early 40's. What it does not show is that PRIOR to retirement they spend about 2-3 years playing more substitute roles and many move to other teams as try to play full games.

The fact is the sport is a hard and tough sport, you body takes a beating that even marathon runners and others do not take. You get hit, tackled, elbowed, and you are constantly running for 45 minutes sometimes sprinting, be it you laik or you no laik. You get injured, they give you all manner of drugs to get to back to be fit as soon as possible.

Look at Barca and yesterday Real. The truth is after a point the players had given all their bodies could give they were tired!!! But shebi they had rested the day before and the day before?

So coming back to Taye Taiwo, if indeed he is anywhere close to 37 / 38 years old, he would not be playing full 90 minute games and retirement would be knocking loudly on his door. The man just has a hard face.

Also remember Taiwo played in the same youth Super Eagles team as Mikel Obi and played against Messi at the U-20 level so even if the age is not precisely correct, 37-38 is far to old ke!

**Godwin** · Apr 27, 2012 , 06:54 PM

http://www.kickoff.com/news/28105/ni...t-his-twin.php

Taiwo 'sickened' by age-cheat rumours

Nigeria international Taye Taiwo says he is sickened by rumours making the rounds about age cheating involving him and his late twin.

Taiwo turned 27 on April 16, but a BlackBerry broadcast message with unknown origins claimed that while the QPR defender was celebrating his 27th in London, his supposed twin brother was marking his 39th.

The message quickly went viral, with some claiming the supposed twin turned 37, and others 33.

It is, however, common knowledge among close friends and relatives of the Taiwos, that Taye's twin, a girl, died barely two months after they were born.

Taiwo, who helped Rangers to a critical 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend, is understandably angry.

"I don't know what kind of sick joke this is, or the kind of sick person who will come up with it," he tells KickOffNigeria.com. "I did not even know my twin. I was very young when my father told me that she died when we were young.

"Why is it that people are always looking for a way to bring others down? I don't understand it."

**Ajibs** · May 15, 2012 , 01:39 PM

Anwuli,

Just FYI, here is another football "great" "retiring" at the tender age of 35!!!

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy retires

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 35, has announced his retirement from football.
The Dutchman had been playing with Spanish side Malaga but endured a difficult season, scoring only five times in 35 games.

His contract had been coming to an end and he made his last appearance in the Andalucian outfit's 1-0 win over Gijon.
"I've played my last match in my professional career," he said upon quitting the sport.
"I wanted to play in the Champions League, but it is the moment to leave.
"I have arrived at my physical limit and I can't play at the maximum level. I couldn't have had a better send-off than this.
"I feel happy that I am the one taking this decision. I would like to thank Malaga, the technical and medical staff for an unforgettable year.
"I am proud to have won collective and individual titles, but my greatest satisfaction was to be able to work day after day, year after year."
DID YOU KNOW?
Van Nistelrooy made 70 appearances for the Dutch national side, scoring 35 goals.

He started his professional career with Dutch side Den Bosch, where he spent four years, before moving on to Heerenveen.
The following year earned him a transfer to Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven, where he made his name, winning the league title twice and establishing himself in the Netherlands national side.
Van Nistelrooy looked set to join Manchester United in 2000-01, but Sir Alex Ferguson called off the transfer due to issues with the striker's fitness. Within days, he broke down in training with ruptured cruciate knee ligaments.
But after making a full recovery, Ferguson came knocking the following summer and Van Nistelrooy signed for the Red Devils in a £19m deal.
He became a fans' favourite at Old Trafford, bagging 150 goals in 219 games, including 95 in the Premier League, winning the league title, FA Cup and League Cup.
After five successful seasons, he moved to Real Madrid where he won another two league titles, before spells at Hamburg and Malaga.

This is what i mean by when these players play at the top of their games, it is a physically tasking on them, Imagine a 35 year old man saying this:

"I have arrived at my physical limit and I can't play at the maximum level.

Imagine! But he speaks the truth, the demand for top level fitness cannot go but so far. This is why fellow like Ryan Giggs are considered legends to be still playing at the tender age of 40,41 or 42. So Taye Taiwo is highly unlikely to be 39 years old, possible, but I seriously doubt it. he just has they typical hard Nigerian suffer suffer blackman face...

**Mikky jaga** · May 16, 2012 , 01:48 PM

I listened to commentaries during QPR's matches and never heard any of the commentators make any snide remarks about Taiwo's age. Only bad belle Nigerians that hate the success of their own people carry about such rumours.

**Ajibs** · May 17, 2012 , 01:52 PM

Here is another guy, 32 years old and not good enough to play for a top club due to an injuries. Michael Owen was one of the best strikers in his hey day. Now at only 32, his career is on the line...

Michael Owen: Manchester United have not offered him a new deal

Manchester United have confirmed that striker Michael Owen will not be offered a new contract and will be leaving the club. The 32-year-old former England forward joined the Old Trafford club in July 2009 but made just 52 appearances. "The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract," said Owen on Twitter. "I have loved every minute I have spent at such a fantastic club."

Owen, who also had spells with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle, added: "I would like to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish them well for the future. "I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move."

Owen's last game in a United shirt came in Belfast on Tuesday in a testimonial for former goalkeeper Harry Gregg.
His time at Old Trafford was blighted by injuries and he managed just four league and cup appearances this season with his final one coming in United's 2-0 win over Otelul Galati during the Champions League group stages in November when he sustained a thigh injury.

Owen's most memorable goal for Manchester United came at Old Trafford back in September 2009.
The striker came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time winner against Manchester City and win the derby 4-3.

He scored another vital goal in the League Cup final against Aston Villa back in 2010. However his celebrations were again cut short by injury and was replaced shortly after.

Owen's last appearance for England was back in 2008, but his goal record at international level is outstanding.
The striker scored 40 goals in 89 appearances, BBC Sport's Gary Lineker tweeted : "A world-class goalscorer who, but for injury, would have broken many records."

Owen started his career as a teenager at Liverpool, before making a big money move to Real Madrid in 2004.
Having spent just one season in La Liga, the striker moved back to the Premier League where he joined Newcastle United, scoring 30 goals in 74 appearances.

Always an admirer of the prolific striker, Sir Alex Ferguson took a risk in signing him for Manchester United on a free transfer in 2009. The Scot said: "It is a pleasure to have had Michael at Manchester United.
"Michael is a consummate professional and was an influential figure in our dressing room. Unfortunately he had no luck with his injury this season. "Michael's record of goals per game is exceptional and we wish him all the best for the future."

Professional football is a rough biz... Players get used, some abused and dumped. BUT they get well paid to be used though... So they cannot complain.

**Ajibs** · Oct 2, 2012 , 09:52 PM

Anwuli,
Here is yet another top footballer retiring at what age...36!

Michael Ballack, former Germany captain, retires at 36

Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has retired from professional football at the age of 36.

Ballack has been without a club since his contract with Bayer Leverkusen ran out at the end of last season.

He represented his country 98 times and also played for Bayern Munich, Kaiserslautern and Chelsea in a 17-year career.

"The last few months without playing football have shown me that the time had come to give it up," he said.

Michael Ballack honours

4 German League titles
3 German Cups
1 German League Cup
1 Premier League title
3 FA Cups
1 League Cup
1 FA Community Shield

Ballack became a free agent at the end of June after Leverkusen failed to offer their former captain a contract extension, and he announced on Tuesday his decision to bring his professional career to an end, despite interest from clubs in Australia.

"I am now looking forward to the next chapter in my life and would like to thank my family and all the amazing people who have supported me, pushed me and accompanied me," he said.

"They have made a major contribution to my success."

Ballack won the first of his four Bundesliga medals with Kaiserslautern in 1998, and was a league title winner three times in four years with Bayern Munich between 2002 and 2006.

He then moved to Premier League side Chelsea in May 2006, where he won the Premier League, the FA Cup three times and the League Cup.

In 2002 while at Leverkusen he finished a runner-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League and World Cup.

So after starting his career at age 19 he retires 17 years later.

I think these cases prove how grueling these sports are on the physical bodies of these athletes. Retire at 36...? Is a 36 year old not still considered a small boy??? But yet, like all the others, it is obvious that he could not longer take the hard schedule of playing top flight football.

So he choice is either go and play in some obscure less demanding league, like Drogba moving to China, where with a lot less effort, you can remain a star and still have some decent money, or keep you nice career records and hang up the boots and probably move into management, or go into to TV. Like we see so many player try to do. Ballack already tried his hands at being a TV pundit during the Euros.

**anwulika** · Oct 3, 2012 , 01:28 AM

Ajibs,

E don do naaoooowww....

You win

**Ajibs** · Oct 19, 2012 , 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by anwulika

Ajibs,

E don do naaoooowww....

You win

LOL I hia you.

But actually it is not to win, and beyond proving Taiwo's "innocence" of being an age cheat. I noted a few years ago this troubling trend in sports.

Most of us work for 20, 30, 40 years in our various careers and we retire at 50,60,70 years old. But here you have these super fit sportsmen retiring just after 10 years in their major profession. And as an NBA study showed, many many of them were unprepared for the sudden end to the fat salary and less that 10 years after retirement they are all BROKE!!! Just last year, I think some ex-football star had to put his Heisman trophy on Ebay! Nah wah things had become so so bad?

Thankfully, organizations like the players association in the NBA and NFL are now helping players to plan financially and figure out how to invest well in order not to go broke a few years upon retirement.

The second thing I realized I do not like about many of these professional sports is how the players are bought and sold like Malu and sheep. They get well paid hence I am absolutely not sorry for them. but in many instances, they are sold against their will.

You hear reports that say, oh that player does not figure in the coaches plan, so he needs to be offloaded. The more insulting trades are the ones where your team for example is targeting a really "expensive" player, but they do not have all the cash, so what do they do, they will offer, say $10 million, and then pack you and your other "useless" teammate and throw into the deal, free in order to convince the selling to depart with the "superstar". Imagine how that really looks like: I am paying $10 million, PLUS dashing you two talented slaves just to get your ONE super talented slave...

It is like those days when a slave owner will dash a farm owner two slave women, plus and OX in return for the strong son of one of the slaves to work on his farms...

But at least these ones are very highly paid slaves who age quickly...