Youngest and oldest in the 2023-24 DStv Premiership season The 2023-24 DStv Premiership concluded with another championship for Mamelodi Sundowns and relegation for Cape Town Spurs. As we look ahead to the new campaign, we share who were the three youngest and the oldest players to compete in south Africa’s topflight last term
YOUNGEST
Siyabonga Mabena
Age: 16 years, 7 months, 9 days
Match: Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 Stellenbosch FC (September 27, 2023)
For the second year in a row the teenager was the youngest player to feature in the south African top-flight. He made his Sundowns debut in the previous campaign aged 16 years, 24 days. He did not quite kick on as he might have hoped in the second season as injuries played their part, but he managed one league start to go with eight substitute appearances and scored his first goal against Stellenbosch FC. Amazingly, he will be entering his third topflight season at the age of 17.
Lucky Muthewi
Age: 17 years, 1 months, 9 days
Match: Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-2 SuperSport United (April 3, 2024)
The young forward made his debut against Golden Arrows in April and later also played two more games for Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United. Still only 17, it will be interesting to see if and how he is utilised in the next campaign. He also played a couple of games in the Nedbank Cup as Hunt gave him five appearances in all in the final two months of the season.
Luke Baartman
Age: 17 years, 4 months, 20 days
Match: Cape Town Spurs 2-1 Orlando Pirates (November 1, 2023)
Baartman burst onto the scene last season and announced himself on debut as he helped Spurs to a 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates, their first of the campaign at the ninth attempt. He would later score against Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu as he netted twice in nine appearances (five starts). There is lots more to come from this teenager.
OLDEST
Clayton Daniels
Age: 39 years, 5 months, 21 days
Match: Cape Town Spurs 0-2 Cape Town City (December 31, 2023) Veteran defender Daniels only featured in the first half of the season for relegated Spurs before he was released, but in that time was the oldest player to feature in the elite league in 2023-24. That appearance came in a local derby defeat to Cape Town City on New Years’ Eve before coach Ernst Middendorp decided he was surplus to requirements.
Nazeer Allie
Age: 39 years, 2 days
Match: Cape Town Spurs 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs (May 25, 2024)
Another veteran defender for Spurs, Allie played just past his 39th birthday when he helped the club to a 2-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign. He managed 10 starts and four sub appearances through the campaign, bringing 20 years’ worth of experience to a young group of players.
Denis Onyango
Age: 38 years, 11 months, 29 days
Match: Royal AM 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns (May 14, 2024)
Veteran goalkeeper Onyango featured in six Sundowns’ league game of the 2023/24 season having played second-fiddle to Ronwen Williams for much of the campaign. His last appearance came a day before his 39th birthday and as ever he put in an assured and solid display. He remains a dependable performer.