Former prolific Kaizer Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma admitted that he altered his age in order to acquire an identity document to pursue his dream of becoming a footballer.
Read: Chiefs duo back from suspension
In a press reader by Kick-Off.com back in 2016, ‘Ntofontofo’ as he is affectionately known in football circles, lifted the lid on the process he went through as he wanted to play football so badly.
(Image: Soccer Laduma)
Mbesuma, who made a name for himself at the Glamour Boys during the 2004/05 season, before sealing a big money-move to the English Premier League with Portsmouth, revealed that because of his prowess at the tender age of 15, they had to resort to plans of making him play.
“I need to tell you a story about my real age.
“I am actually turning 31 in February instead of 32, as I had to add one more year to my age so that I could acquire an identity document while I was at Roan United [in Zambia], aged 15, ” Mbesuma said in that 2016 presser.
“Though the coaches wanted to use me in the first team at 15, I couldn’t get the identity document which would enable me to be registered with the Zambian Premier League because I was underage.
“I went to the ID offices and I was told that to get that ID I had to be 16. So my mother and father decided to add one more year on my age so that I could immediately fulfill my dream.”
The 2012 Afcon-winning striker added that he made his top-flight debut at just 15 and not 16.
“There was no other way because I wanted to play and the coaches wanted to use me. So when I started playing in the Zambian Premier League for Roan United I was actually 15 instead of 16 that appeared on my documents. “
Mbesuma was named PSL Player of the Season in 2005 after scoring a sensational 35 goals in one term with Amakhosi, a record that still stands as the best goal return in a PSL campaign.
The 35-year-old, who now plies his trade for University of Pretoria in the GladAfrica Championship, has notched up over 90 goals since moving to South Africa, and also played for the likes of Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows, just to mention a few.