Pirates’ history of veteran champions: Can Makhaula join the list?

With Orlando Pirates midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula the oldest player in the squad, KickOff looks at the oldest players to have won the league title at the club.

Makhaula has famously said that he will only consider retiring after winning the league and all eyes will be on his decision, should The Buccaneers clinch their first Premiership crown in 14 years.

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At 36, the former AmaZulu midfielder is the oldest member in a squad that has a lot of younger players and his experience has been crucial in the Buccaneers having the chance to win the title on the final matchday against Orbit College on Saturday.

The last time The Ghosts won the league title, a double-treble, firstly from the 2010/11 season, Lucky Lekgwathi was the oldest member at 34 years, followed by the likes of Zvenyika Makonese at 33.

Lekgwathi's experience proved vital again in winning the second league treble in the 2011/12, as he was still the oldest veteran, having reached 35 at the end of that campaign.

It took four more years at Pirates before 'Phinda Mzala' officially retired.

Lekgwathi, however, was not the only veteran in that 2011/12 league winning season, after Pirates had signed Benni McCarthy, who was 34 and Luis Boa Morte, at the same age, although the Portuguese winger's time at The Buccaneers was short-lived.

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In the 2002/03 league-winning season, Ernest Mtawali had the responsibility of being the oldest player in the Pirates squad, at 37, followed by former goalkeeper William Okpara, who was 35.

Mtawali also the most senior player by age in the squad that won the league title in the 2000/01 campaign, at the age of 35 but there was also the likes of Thabo Mngomeni and Jerry Sikhosana, who were both 32.