Where is Joseph Minala now 12 years on from accusations ex-Lazio youth was actually aged 42

Joseph Minala looked to be a star of the future when first scouted and signed by Lazio in 2013, but a painful age scandal threw an unavoidable and lasting spanner in the works

Joseph Minala’s football journey is a tale of heartbreak.

The Cameroonian midfielder was scouted and signed by Serie A heavyweights Lazio in 2013, a dream come true for the then-17-year-old prodigy. However, his joy quickly turned into a nightmare when an African football website alleged that Minala was not a teenager, but 42, claiming his passport had been tampered with.

Despite Minala and his agent successfully debunking these claims with valid documentation confirming his actual age, the damage was done. The controversy drew unwanted attention to the young player, all but tarnishing his promising career. Star Sport now delves into the wonderkid’s career and how a cruel hoax derailed his potential.

As a result of the scandal, Minala missed the remainder of 2013 and tried to move past the controversy when he joined Lazio’s senior team in 2014. However, a spot in the first team eluded him.

He was loaned out to Serie B clubs Bari and Latina before enjoying a successful stint with Salernitana. Minala then left Italy for the first time in his career to join Chinese Super League side Qingdao Huanghai on loan, where he made just 15 appearances before returning to Lazio, reports the Mirror.

Throughout his time with Lazio, Minala was believed to have boosted his modest £600-per-week wage to a cool estimated £11,500 between 2019 and 2021. However, in 2021, he bid farewell to the Italian capital.

Despite Lazio’s long-term investment, hoping that Minala’s potential would eventually flourish, the age controversy that surrounded him proved to be a stumbling block. Post-Lazio, he inked a one-year deal with Serie C underdogs Lucchese.

By the age of 26, Minala had become quite the football nomad, first signing with Olbia in Sardinia. After parting ways with them, he had a brief spell with Liepaja in Latvia before heading to Malta, where he’s currently based.

Now 28, Minala has donned the kits for Sliema Wanderers and is presently plying his trade for Gzira United. While he strives to establish a commendable career in Malta, it’s a stark contrast to the heights of Serie A, and the opportunities lost due to the accusations.

“That damn controversy. I was dejected at that time,” Minala said to SO FOOT back in September. “I did not understand why people continued to pick on me. They kept bringing up this age story. To achieve what I did, very few today can boast of that.

“I came from Cameroon, I worked hard to join a prestigious club like Lazio, and I managed to reach the professional world. When I think back, I tell myself that I would have preferred to have really lied about my age. That way, I pay for what I did.

“But this was not the case. Doors were closed to me for something I was innocent of. Many opportunities were blocked for me because of that.”

Yet, despite the controversy, Minala still considers himself lucky, and is optimistic over what football has left in store for him at the age of 28.

“I am lucky to be able to make a living from my sport. That is already a privilege. I continue to enjoy myself, to be happy to train and that is the most important thing,” he concluded. “But I am not giving up; I am only 28 years old, and anything can still happen. A career is long.”