Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has detailed his brush with age-cheating during his days as a development player.
The 38-year-old made his senior national team debut for Chipololopo in 2004 and won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
His last call-up came during the COSAFA Cup a few years ago, which was hosted in South Africa. Prior to that, he had played for the junior national teams.
CAF BAN SOUTH SUDAN FOR AGE CHEATING
Speaking at the back of a decision by CAF to kick out South Sudan from the current U-17 Africa Cup of Nations being held in Algeria, the veteran also shared his encounter with age cheating.
Five players from the Bright Star Juniors failed the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests which resulted in the team being disqualified. The CAF rules state that the entire team will be disqualified from a tournament if four or more players fail the MRI test.
“I was even told to reduce my age, but I said no, [I] just can’t do that,” he told SuperSport TV Show, Soccer Africa, on Thursday.
“I was told to do that. That’s why I played only once for Zambia Under 21 when we came to South Africa. Because these people were telling me no, you must cut your age a bit, and I said no, I would never do that,” explained Mweene.
KENNEDY MWEENE DECLINED TO BE INVOLVED IN AGE CHEATING
“I was first selected in a Coca-Cola tournament in Zimbabwe. When we came back, I was selected for the Under 20, which was coming to play COSAFA in South Africa.
“But before I even joined Zambia Under 20, there was someone who told me to cut my age. So that I can play for at least two or three years with the Under 20. I said, ‘I would never do that’,” he said.
“I would rather remain in Zambia. Who knows I wasn’t going to play football until I am where I am now. I would have retired a long time if I had used that age. I would have been 34 now [he laughed].”
South Africa and Zambia are in the same group at the Under 17 tournament alongside Morocco and Nigeria in Alegria. Amajimbos need to beat Nigeria to stand any chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.
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