Nigeria’s former international football star, Pastor Taribo West, was today branded an unrepentant liar by a foreign club where he plied is trade during his active playing days, and another which he unsuccessfully tried to join.

“He joined us saying he was 28. We only later found out he was 40, but he was still playing well so I don’t regret having him on the team,” said Zarko Zecevic, ex-president of Serbian team Partizan Belgrade, which Taribo joined in 2002 after leaving British club Derby County.

As if that is not bad enough, Croatian media have also alleged that the former defender known for his colourful hairstyles also lied when trying to join Croatia’s Rijeka club.

“At the age of 44, they said West told club doctors he was only 32,” reports Britain’s Daily Mail.

“It was only after an examination that the doctors raised suspicions with the club because West’s knees suggested he was older,” the report adds.

Taribo wasn’t signed to the team but later joined Plymouth of Britain and then Iranian side Paykan FC, where he ended his career at the age of 46 in 2008. His official age is 39.

Taribo, now a fulltime pastor managing his own church, has yet to react to the allegations.

•Photo: Taribo (right) in action during his playing days.