CREATE TABLE table_203_116 (id DECIMAL, "no." DECIMAL, "player" TEXT, "birth date" TEXT, "weight" DECIMAL, "height" DECIMAL, "position" TEXT, "current club" TEXT)

how many players were born before 1988 ?
SELECT COUNT("player") FROM table_203_116 WHERE "birth date" < 1988
SELECT COUNT("player") FROM "table_203_116" WHERE "birth date" < 1988