I was 20 when I played for Ghana’s U-17 team – Charles Taylor – Nsemkeka
Former Ghana international Charles Taylor has revealed that he was 20 years old when he represented the country at the U-17 level.
Speaking on the issue of age categories in Ghanaian football on Angel TV, the former Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko cult hero claimed that no Ghanaian talent under the age of 15 is capable of kicking a football.
“I am telling you that any child who claims to be under 15 cannot kick a football,” he said in Twi.
When the host interjected, drawing his attention to the gravity of his claims and noting that an U-15 team is currently in camp in Prampram, Taylor stood his ground.
“I am telling you, no one—no player—can truthfully say that when he played for the U-17s, he was indeed under 17. That player was probably four or five years older,” he insisted.
“My son, for instance—if he is even called up to the U-20s—he would be told he’s too young. You see, I’m telling Ghanaians, if we want to see the likes of Lamine Yamal [Barcelona and Spain youngster] in this country, we need to act. During our time, the age difference was about three, four, or five years, but now… let me tell you something: I took someone’s passport. They were taking him to the U.S. The person claimed to be under 20 but is 25 years old. He was part of the recent U-20 team,” he alleged.
Charles Taylor was a member of Ghana’s 2004 Olympic football team, which exited in the first round after finishing third in Group B. He also won a silver medal with the Ghana U-20 team at the 2001 Africa Youth Championship in Ethiopia.
Taylor earned 41 caps for the Ghana national team, the Black Stars, scoring 19 goals. He also represented Ghana at the 2009 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Côte d’Ivoire, where the team finished second after losing to Congo in the final.