Former Hearts of Oak midfielder Joe Tagoe, popularly known as “Bobby Short,” has made a shocking confession about age manipulation during his playing career.
Tagoe revealed that he once reduced his age from 35 to 19 to secure an opportunity with an Egyptian under-19 team.
Speaking in an interview with ATV, Tagoe attributed his decision to the harsh realities of poverty and an unfair football system that often compels players to falsify their ages to remain competitive.
“In 2017, I was at home recovering from an injury when Francis Martey called me with an offer from an Egyptian team looking for an under-19 player,” Tagoe recounted. “Given my height and the opportunity, I agreed. I altered my passport to say I was 19, but in reality, I was around 34 or 35 years old. This is what poverty and an unfair system can drive you to do.”
Despite securing the chance, Tagoe admitted to facing immense physical challenges while training with the U-19 team. He revealed that the intense physical demands nearly led to severe health complications.
“I was training with both the senior team and the U-20s because they said I was more mature than the kids. The U-20 sessions were extremely rigorous, and I often felt dizzy after training. I realized my age was catching up with me, and I would have died if I hadn’t taken precautions,” he said.
To maintain the deception, Tagoe resorted to hiding his grey hair by dyeing it daily. However, the toll on his body became unbearable, forcing him to walk away from the opportunity.
“My grey hair was already showing, so I carried dye everywhere and used it every morning. But I eventually left because it was too much for my body. If they had asked me to reduce my age to 15, I would have done it. Many players are forced into similar situations because of poverty and lack of support,” he revealed.
Joe Tagoe was a fan favorite during his time at Hearts of Oak, where his flair and diminutive stature made him a standout on the pitch. His revelation sheds light on the broader challenges many African footballers face in their quest to pursue their dreams amidst systemic inequalities.
