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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A former Zambian Super League player has made sensational claims that a number of the Cosafa Under-20 squad players have been playing top flight football for more than four years, making their ages questionable.

According to information at hand, the Zambian players are between 17 and 19 years, meaning some started playing topflight football at the ages of 15 or even 14.

The physically imposing Zambians overran their Group B counterparts Zimbabwe 5-1 in the opening match of the 2016 PPC Cosafa Under-20 Championships that got underway in South Africa on Wednesday.

For a country touted as one of the tournament favourites to lose by such a margin is shocking, but claims by the former championship winning player brings a whole new dimension to the equation.

“Most of them (players) have been in the Premiership for four or more years now and I knew from the moment I saw the line-up that you guys (Zimbabweans) are not going to match them. Their experience is too much for your youngsters,” said the player.

However, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga refuted the claims and said records are there to prove that his players are of the right age.

Asked if FAZ would be willing to subject its players to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to ascertain their correct ages, Kamanga said:

“The scan only works for players under the age of 17 years, anyone older than that the result is always questionable.”

But if the organisers demand that, said Kamanga, then they will cooperate.

“Records could be there my brother, but I can tell you that the situation here in Zambia is different, especially the way they do their registrations for identity particulars. We have had players who burst into the scene as supposed teenagers only to retire at 26 or even before that because your proper age would have caught up with you. Surely how can someone retire at 26 and go into coaching; it’s just strange,” said the player.

Zambia were recently slapped with a two-year ban from all Cosafa Youth tournaments after fielding two over-age players at the Cosafa Under-17 Championships in Mauritius.

The players, Benjamin Phiri and Nicholas Mulilo, were banned from competing in all Cosafa competitions for a period of two years. Coach Osward Mutapa and team manager Collins Phiri were also affected by the ban.

However, the ban was lifted after FAZ paid the $5 000 fine by October 15, 2016, as imposed by the Cosafa disciplinary committee. “Yes, they paid their fine,” said Cosafa’s Lynda Greef.