Ghanaian footballer Richard Kingson. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Black Stars of Ghana will face the Pharaohs of Egypt on October 15 for a challenging World Cup qualifying match. Football fans are certainly salivating at the prospect of a beautiful game between two of the biggest football nations on the continent. The same cannot be said of the game’s administrators in both countries. I reckon the team managers are apprehensive as they prepare the players for this crucial matchup.
To ensure victory, the Ghana Football Association has recalled Richard Kingson, the oldest active Ghanaian football player. It’s been two years since goalkeeper Richard Kingson made an appearance for the Black Stars. But, the powers that be in Ghana Football appear to believe he still has what it takes to be on the team.
There is only one problem. Ghanaians are not amused with the return of the one they’ve dubbed “Methuselah” on account of the fact that no one knows for sure the real age of the veteran shot-stopper. Richard Kingson’s official football age is 35. However, rumors have long circulated that he is much older. A former Ghana Football Association president has alleged that “Olele” as he is popularly called, is over 40 years old.
Ghanaians have taken to social networks to express their frustration through humor. The #OleleFacts hashtag was born and started trending from the very moment the Ghana Football Association announced the recall of Richard Kingson. The tongue-in-cheek posts on Facebook and Twitter reference Olele’s age. Implicit within the “Olele Facts” is the notion that Richard Kingson is an overage football player.
Age-cheating in football is a global phenomenon. Perhaps, Ghanaians have stumbled onto the most creative way to bring awareness to the issue by exposing through humor, players they suspect of age-cheating. Here’s to hoping other countries join the fun on social networks. Did someone say Nigeria? In the meantime, let’s have a good laugh with a few of the #OleleFacts tweets.
When olele was born,the dead sea was still alive.#olelefacts
— Sketches Nanayaw (@nana_sketches) October 9, 2013
Olele was the security guard in the garden of Eden #OleleFacts
— Paa Kofi JamesBond (@spinojix22) October 9, 2013
It was Olele’s donkey that Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem #Olelefacts
— Josh (@jampadu) October 6, 2013
Olele’s football career is older than Ghana’s democracy & South Africa’s independence. #OleleFacts
— King Kofi (@The9thKing) October 5, 2013
Olele used to go for a walk in a park…Jurasic Park…#oleleFacts
— ♬MARION♬ (@Marion_Mills1) August 27, 2013
One day Olele was cooking rice and stew, he mistakenly poured the rice into the stew, jollof was made #oleleFacts
— Our Favorite Fugitiv (@Naa_Achere) August 27, 2013
