Joseph Minala, once heralded as a football wonderkid, became embroiled in controversy early in his career when he was accused of being 42 years old while being presented as a 17-year-old.
This bizarre saga has cast a shadow over his journey in professional football.
Initially making headlines a little over a decade ago when he signed with Lazio at 17, the Cameroon-born player faced scrutiny after an African football website alleged he was masquerading as a teenager and had tampered with his passport to appear 25 years younger. This shocking claim led to an investigation where he was questioned by league officials.
Both Minala and Lazio’s management vehemently denied the allegations, providing documentation to confirm his true age. After being cleared of any wrongdoing, he resumed his career in 2014, although he found it difficult to establish himself at Lazio, making only a handful of appearances.
ALSO READ: Zambian striker ‘suspected to be a man’ nominated for BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year
Minala spent subsequent years on loan to several Serie B clubs, including Bari and Latina, before enjoying a three-season stint at Salernitana. Despite playing 67 matches there, the club opted not to make his loan permanent, and he returned to Lazio.
In 2020, Minala was loaned to Qingdao Huanghai in the Chinese Super League, where he made just 15 appearances in what turned out to be an uneventful season. His contract with Lazio expired at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, prompting him to sign a one-year deal with Lucchese in Serie C. However, after 20 appearances, he moved again, leaving his career status uncertain at just 26 years old.
His next opportunity in Italy with Olbia also proved frustrating, resulting in his release by mutual consent, followed by a brief stint at Liepaja in Latvia.
In 2023, Minala joined Sliema Wanderers, the most successful club in Malta. The club expressed their excitement about his arrival, highlighting his previous experience with clubs like Lazio, Bari, and Salernitana.
However, Minala’s debut with Sliema came in a challenging match, as the team suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Armenian side Noah in the Europa Conference League qualifying round. Minala was substituted at halftime when his team was already three goals down. Despite this setback, he has since made 25 appearances for Sliema and scored four goals.
Reflecting on the age controversy, Minala has acknowledged its impact on his career, particularly during his time with Lazio. He noted, “I was very young and I couldn’t know or predict the resonance this would have. I’m very convinced that the age story has always held back my career. Did I expect more? Definitely. Every time I went out on loan, I always had good seasons, but I never had the same opportunities as others at Lazio.”
