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NPFL: Kano Pillars coach Ahmed Garba reveals error in Rabiu Ali’s reported age
By Saheed Afolabi
Kano Pillars assistant coach, Ahmed Garba, has shed light on a long-standing misconception about club legend Rabiu Ali’s age, claiming that the 44-year-old’s age is incorrect.
The talented Ali, who continues to impress on the pitch, is often regarded as the oldest player in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). However, Garba insists that the reported age of the Masu Gida captain is the result of an administrative error dating back to his time at Nasarawa United.
According to Garba, the mix-up occurred during Ali’s CAF Champions League registration in 2007, when Nasarawa United was preparing for continental competition.
A mistake in the documentation led to an incorrect age being recorded. When Ali moved to Kano Pillars in 2009, the age on his official documents had already been recorded by CAF, and any attempt to correct it would have led to further complications.
Garba explained: “You know, Rabiu Ali joined us from Nasarawa United. At the time, when they (Nasarawa United) were set to play in a continental competition in 2007, I think it was the CAF Champions League, a mistake was made in his CAF registration document,” Garba told Complete Sports.
“When he joined us ahead of our 2009 CAF Champions League campaign, the age in his document couldn’t be changed, as it was already recorded by CAF. Any attempt to alter it would have caused more issues, so it was left as it was. Since then, people have assumed he is 44 and, therefore, considered old.”
Garba went on to clarify that at the time of the registration error, Ali was likely around 18 or 19 years old, not the 44 years that his age suggests today.
He believes that the confusion surrounding Ali’s age is simply a result of an honest clerical mistake, which has been perpetuated over the years.
“Rabiu was still a very young player then, probably around 18 or 19 years. When he joined us at Kano Pillars, there was nothing we could do to correct the age, as it was already recorded by CAF. So, I believe Rabiu is not as old as reported. It’s just a documentation mistake, which could happen to anyone.”
Despite the error, Rabiu Ali remains a vital player for Kano Pillars, continuing to deliver exceptional performances well into what would have been his retirement years if the reported age were true.
His longevity and consistency on the field have made him one of the most respected players in the NPFL, regardless of the misunderstanding surrounding his age.
