The DStv Premiership is not exactly a place for young and old with clubs generally reluctant to use inexperienced teenagers and many players considered past their sell-by date once they hit their early 30s.
So it is interesting to see who were the three youngest and three oldest players to feature in South African topflight in the 2022/23 season.
THE YOUNG ONES
Luphumlo Sifumba
Age: 17 years, 9 months, 10 days
Match: Orlando Pirates 2-1 Cape Town City (April 22, 2023)
Sifumba has long been touted as a teenage prodigy ate Cape Town City and will be hoping to push on with more regular first team appearances in 2023/24. He made three sub appearances in the previous campaign, the first of which was against Orlando Pirates in a losing effort. There is a lot of excitement around the young midfielder in Cape Town.
Neo Rapoo
Age: 17 years, 4 months, 26 days
Match: Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 SuperSport United (January 7, 2023)
The teenage left-back made four appearances in all for SuperSport United last season, the first of which came at Lamontville Golden Arrows. That was off the bench, but he also started against the same opponents and Swallows FC. With Onismor Bhasera set to retire, he could well be the long-term replacement for Gavin Hunt.
Siyabonga Mabena
Age: 16 years, 24 days
Match: Mamelodi Sundowns 5-1 Royal AM (March 14, 2023)
The junior international sensation became one of the youngest players ever to feature in the South African topflight and looks to be a huge prospect, not just for Sundowns, but South Africa too. The tricky playmaker excelled at the COSAFA U17 Championships and went on to shine at the continental finals in that age-group, but along the way also made five appearances for The Brazilians. He is far from the finished article, but arguably the most exciting talent to come out fot he country in years.
THE OLDIES
Denis Onyango
Age: 38 years, 1 day
Match: Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Maritzburg United (May 16, 2023)
Veteran goalkeeper Onyango featured in Sundowns’ final league game of the 2022/23 season having played second-fiddle to Ronwen Williams for much of the campaign. His appearance came a day past his 38th birthday and as ever he put in an assured and solid display. He remains a dependable performer.
Vuyo Mere
Age: 38 years, 10 months, 19 days
Match: TS Galaxy 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns (January 24, 2023)
Fullback Mere still seems ageless having spent more than 20 years as a professional player in the South African league. He has had less and less appearances in the last few years, but remains a dependable back-up and a great squad man to have around with his professionalism and positive outlook. It has been confirmed he will stay at TS Galaxy for next season, so could well be top of this list at the end of that campaign.
Elias Pelembe
Age: 39 years, 5 months, 20 days
Match: Orlando Pirates 1-1 Royal AM (May 3, 2023)
Winger Dominguez continues to defy his age and played 29 times for Royal AM in all competitions last season. It is a remarkable feat for a winger ay his age, who continues to bomb up and down the flanks. It will be the last we see of him though as he has confirmed he will be returning to Mozambique in the new campaign, bringing to an end a 16-year stay in South Africa. He is also still an important part of the Mozambique national team.