SAY NO TO AGE CHEAT.

Dear All,

I took my time to prepare this write-up because it’s a truth the majority of us never want to hear and have a discussion about, especially all of us that claimed they’re youth football talent developers… Please, we need to stop the pretense.

It is sad we never mind how disadvantageous age-choosing cheating is, eating up the swift and sustainable progress we should have made in the Nigerian Youth Soccer setup if we had been fair and precise about the genuineness of our youths’ players’ respective ages during underage football competitions.

Age cheating is one of the greatest threats to the development of youth football in Africa.

While it may provide a temporary advantage to a player or team, its long-term consequences are damaging to players, clubs, national teams, and the reputation of Nigerian and African football because it:

1. Denies genuine young talents opportunities.
   Overage players take places meant for eligible youth players, preventing talented youngsters from gaining valuable playing time, exposure, and scholarships.
2. Hinders long-term player development
   When physically mature players dominate youth competitions, coaches may overlook technically gifted younger players who could develop into better professionals over time.
3. Youth tournaments are designed to provide equal opportunities for players within a specific age group. Age cheating undermines the integrity and fairness of these competitions.
4. Increases Risk of Injury
   Older and more physically developed players often have greater strength and power, increasing the likelihood of injuries to younger, age-eligible opponents.
5. Damages the Credibility of Nigerian and African Football
   Repeated cases of age fraud harm the international reputation of Nigerian and African football, leading to greater scrutiny and reduced confidence from scouts, clubs, sponsors, and governing bodies.
6. Reduces Chances of Producing World-Class Players.
   Players who succeed because of physical maturity rather than technical ability may struggle when they reach senior football, where opponents are equally mature and the game demands higher tactical and technical quality.
7. Face strict disciplinary sanctions
   Teams found guilty of age cheating should face player suspensions, disqualification from competitions, forfeiture of titles, fines, and damage to their reputation.
8. Promotes Dishonesty
   Age fraud sends the wrong message to young athletes by normalizing deception instead of emphasizing integrity, discipline, and hard work.
9. Discourages Genuine Youth Players
   Talented youngsters may lose confidence or quit football after repeatedly competing against overage players who enjoy a significant physical advantage.
10. Misguides Talent Identification

Scouts and coaches may mistakenly identify physically mature overage players as elite prospects while overlooking younger players with greater long-term potential.

I appeal to you and advise you to design a long-term player development plan over short-term success.

Strong ethical standards from clubs, coaches, parents, and administrators.

True success in youth football is not measured by winning at all costs, but by developing talented, honest, and well-prepared players who can succeed at the highest levels of the game which will later bring fortune to all our clubs which we honestly know we operate and grow organically.

Please, coaches, let’s stop wasting our time cheating… Let’s be honest in all aspects of the business of youth football development so that we can at least hope for an encouraging reward in the future.

Thank you all for giving this an honest thought.

Coach Seun

Director. Cityfut Escolar