"Unfortunately we are extremely concerned to have learned, recently, of instances of age cheating at our Youth Development Programme. It appears to be of a magnitude that calls for an immediate, and extensive, investigation," a club statement reads.
"The full scale investigation that the club is undertaking is as a result of the preliminary investigation that has indentified occurrences of age cheating in our academy.
"This is of grave concern to the club as this practice does not only go against the Orlando Pirates Football Club value system, it is first and foremost, an illegal act of criminality that goes against the law. It is therefore incumbent upon the club to take immediate and drastic action."
In May this year Irvin Khoza revealed that Pirates were conducting an internal investigation into alleged age cheating in their development structures. This time the club is shutting down their development completely, and have asked parents to move their children to different schools.
"This process will start with a full scale investigation that will be far reaching as it has to result in the total eradication of this problem and help us put systems into place to avoid any recurrence.
"To this effect, parents have been advised to make arrangements for their children to return to school nearer their homes under their complete supervision. The parents have also been urged to help in the investigation through their participation when duly requested.
"To ensure the investigation is thorough and unhindered, the club cannot at this stage indicate when the investigation will be complete."
Your comments on this story...
A step in the right direction Mabhakania. We wont say anything. You can field everyone on the 8th. We don't want an unfair advantage.
Pirates fans are such hypocrites when Chiefs shut down the academy for similar reasons they insulted the team and called us all names under the sun, now they are congradulating Khoza for doing exactly what Motaung Snr did.........talk about double standards.......Akuna bantu La.
Yesterday ko Ivory Park I was with a youth development coach that works with Bo Njenje & trains u/14s ko Ivory...
I must say the way these academies train children is deconstructive...
these coaches with their what-what licenses are contributing to the death of football in this country... the drills are pointless... gone are the days were football is about flair, feeling & instinct...
Now these boys are being trained to be rigid machines that play without instinct...
Earlier today I accused you of not making sense. I realise now that it was not entirely true and I apologise.
Age and player registration cheating is rife at safa regional level. That is where it should be rooted out first. Players from these leagues are taken to soccer academies and psl clubs development programmes fraudulently. We have to start from local associations in order to cure this disease.
I still believe the is a conspiracy around this. It got worse since Trousier till Pereira a comon denominator being the world cup. To be fair its not only SA its all frican countries. Egypt was an exception but now it seems they fell into the trap.
SA must catch a wake up we r in the right direction now we have to overcome all this things. Somehow I feel Africa must be a force world wide and I think sports will go a long way in showing those intentions.
This has been there ever since that development started, Kaizer was cashing on it and there's nothing genuine about him raising this issue now. fact of the matter is that running a professional development is costly and he is currently suffering financial problems since Premedia pulled out, he just doesn't want to come out and tell the truth. whoever believes that Kaizer will have a problem with any kind of cheating that benefits his team should really consult a brain surgeon, Kaizer is where he is true that practice, his team alleged \"success\" through dubious means is legendary.
So are you guys saying he all of a sudden developed a conscious? i agree with you King there, players like Shoes never faked their age hence they played well into their forties. how do you explain Dr Khumalo beng finished at 30?
You can fool some people some of the times, but you can not fool all the people all the time!
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what one of the fools said after Kaizer shut down our development few years ago...
We are nt gonna sink Amazula with a heavy score as we hv reserved that 7-0 for the 8th of Dec.
So 3 goals to nil courtesy of Mbesuma will ensure the gap is almost close with only 2 points separation.
So reclaiming the glory is jst a pipe dream influence by Jesilekhekhe and her soon-to-be convicted brother (who is mastermind behind the murder of babaJimmy Mohlala) Bobby Mbhebheni Motaung for their Dogs to hav somethng to preach about.
Oooooh i cant wait 4 Sunday where Amanzula will be Mbesumarised.
The third treble is slowly starting to smell on my nose nw!
We salute Kaizer snr for showing them the way, and rest is starting to show initiative now.