Unbelievably, former Newcastle player Obafemi Martins has only just turned 30. Seriously, 30. Back in 2010, an excellent, enlightening article from The Guardian published claims from several Nigerian bloggers that the age controversy that had seen the national side banned from all international fixtures for two years after deception over the real ages of three members of the 1988 Olympic squad. That article, which claimed JayJay Okocha was 10 years older than he claimed, and Kanu 9 years older, said Martins is actually now 37. Claims that the Nigerian hitman, who enjoyed mixed fortunes for Newcastle, is well into the twilight of his career are currently being disproved by his form for Seattle Sounders, for whom he has scored 25 goals in 51 games. So maybe he's not so ancient? The accusations seemed to stick though, and suspiciously ahead of the 2009 U17 World Cup when FIFA announced that players would be subjected to wrist scans using magnetic resonance imaging - to determine their true age - Nigeria mysteriously withdrew 15 squad members. Pretty damning actions for a guiltless party. Anyway, no matter how old he is, he did a job, and to celebrate the milestone, here's his best goals for the Magpies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7djfyJGsrs
