Shocker: Former Ghana Star Don Bortey Reveals He Is 38 Years, Claims Richard Kingson Is Older Than Him

Bernard Don Bortey claims he is 38 years and Olele is older him

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson
Former Ghana youth star Bernard Don Bortey has sensationally admitted he age-cheated at the New Zealand 99 U17 World Cup and claims Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson is far older than him. 

Bortey, who has played for Ghana at all levels – from U17 to the Black Stars, claims he is 38 years and demands respect from Ghana Football officials after he was charged and punished for verbally assaulting a match official.

The former Hearts of Oak playmaker whose career has been marked by controversies to the standards of Italian Mario Balotelli, played along Chelsea star Michael Essien and Fulham midfielder Derek Boateng at some point in his career.

“To tell you the truth, I'm not a small boy but I just look young. I was born in 1976 but my football age says I'm less than that. It is important that officials who handle the game accord us some respect,” he told Accra-based Oman FM.

Bortey verbally assaulted Ghana FA Executive Committee member Lillian Addy during the New Edubiase-Kotoko tie at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and was slapped with a hefty fine – one of his several career punishments.

The winger made his name in Ghanaian football in the early 2000s earning the tag ' Serial Killer ' for his incredible ability to damaging defenders on the wings and scoring important goals for both club and country.

Quizzed on whether he influenced his own age-cheating, the former CAF Confederations Cup winner said officials at Ghapoha – a former Ghana Premier League side now in administration, reduced his age before the U17 tournament in 1999.

After openly discussing his own age in the public, he vehemently rejected suggestions that he is older than long-serving Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson whose official age is 35.

“Nooo! No! Olele [Richard Kingson] is far older than me. I don't know his age but he is older than me,” he claimed.

Bortey played an influential role in Ghana's first ever qualification to the World Cup in 2006, heralding a strong performance in the victory over Somalia in the preliminary round of qualifiers.

He was also a member of the Hearts of Oak side that won the maiden edition of the CAF Confederations Cup in 2004 and is well noted for his ability to score from long range drives.

His admission could trigger an investigation from FIFA as Ghana won a bronze medal from the 1999 tournament after beating the United States 2-0 in the third-place game in Auckland.