Defying the odds at 34, Siyabonga Nomvethe

In the 90s, there was a hit song by the late Aaliyah – Age ain’t nothing but a number, this song must be played each and every day by Moroka swallows 34 year old striker, Siyabonga ‘Bhele’ Nomvethe. I say this because many players his age have already applied for ‘football retirement pension’, but not Bhele, he instead is teaching the youngsters of South Africa how to strike the ball. He is able to outrun/outpace defenders aged around 24, he is able to play for 90 min without showing any signs of tiredness or laziness and most importantly he is able to find the back of the net without any hesitation. This man is simply defying the odds this current ABSA premier ship season by leading the sleeping giant, Moroka Swallows, as serious contenders for the league title, and he has done so by becoming the top goal marksman with 20 goals so far in the whole campaign and he has even earned himself a possible call up to the national squad. This is good news considering the lack of strikers in the squad, but sad considering we had to go to the ‘old age home’ to try and solve our terrible potency in front of goal. For how long will the ‘old age home’ provide us with their ageing stars before they complain too much? Should we expect to see a national team with players who will need oxygen masks, walking sticks and a urinal because we keep calling them up to the national team even at a very old age? SAFA please work on your youth development because I don’t want to see my beloved Bafana Bafana having an average age of players who are 50 years and above.