It seems like former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Thuso Phala has opened a can of worms with his comments where he seemingly admitted to cheating.
In a recent interview with the 'Kota and Chill Podcast', Phala made comments that he might have lied about his age when he played professional football.
SuperSport United, Black Leopards and the now defunct Platinum Stars are the other clubs that the 37-year-old played for in his professional career, while he also represented Bafana Bafana.
"Do you want to know my age or the football age? After all, there is age that you leave at home and then there is football age, which you use on the field. My football age is what you see right now, and there is something I left at home," said Phala, in part.
Phala, who recently announced his retirement from professional football, shocked the football fraternity with his comments and started debates.
Local football agent Ratshibvumo Mulovhedzi from Rush Hour Sport Management reveals that age cheating has become a major problem in Mzansi.
The Good
"Before the introduction of the U23 rule in the First Division, the issue of age cheating was being controllable and there were no longer too many cases of players falsifying their ages. I think if the rules can be changed about age in the First Division, Bafana Bafana can also get to benefit as Hugo Broos would have a bigger pull of good players to choose from in the different leagues instead of clubs ending up signing undeserving players because of the rules to do with age," said Mulovhedzi.
The Bad
"Age cheating in South African football is real and there are a lot of players that have done it and there are factors that have contributed to it which I think could be eradicated through the assistance of the authorities in the league. Ever since the introduction of the U23 rule, there has been a rise in the players falsifying their ages. For me, the U23 rule has so many disadvantages because with players lying about their ages, the league is getting weak each and every season. Players lie about their ages and go to the First Division knowing that clubs are desperate for young players for the U23 rule and some of those players end up in the PSL (DStv Premiership) and that's where the problem starts," he said.
The Ugly
"It gets even worse if we can talk about the DDC (DStv Diski Chalenge) because in the past it used to be a league for young and those from players from the PSL who are starved of game time in the first team. It used to be helpful for first team players coming injuries and so on by playing with the younger ones who also got to learn from them. In that way, the league was competitive, and it is confusing as to why they tampered with it. For the past three years, age cheating has been on the rise because of all the changes," the intermediary added.
"Big difference between European and African football"
"To make matters worse, some of the clubs now require that players should be 17 years old or younger to play in the DDC and I don't think that will work in South Africa. Once players are older than the said required age, those clubs are reluctant to give them opportunities. Sundowns is one of the clubs I know that want players to be that young to play in the DDC. I wish the Sporting Director (Flemming Berg) could re-look the age issue when it comes to the DDC. I understand that it is common practice in Europe but there is big difference between European and African football. Age cheating stars with decisions like these because players feel under pressure to make the grade. If you are 20, you do not qualify to play in the reserve league. I think things would get better if they can change the rules about the age in the DDC," concluded Mulovhedzi.
What punishment should be appropriate for age cheaters?
