Siboniso Gaxa has been a wonderful servant to the Kaizer Chiefs family after returning to South Africa in 2012, following a short stint in Europe with Lierse in Belgium. Up until this very season, Gaxa has been regarded as one of the country’s best right-backs.

Nevertheless, will we now begin to see his quality diminish going into his early 30s?

In football, young attacking wingers show absolutely no mercy when taking on ‘aging’ fullbacks as they relentlessly take on the opposition, using pace and skill as their main weapon.

Gaxa showed such signs of wear and tear when we were knocked out of the CAF Champions League at the hands of African juggernauts Raja Casablanca not too long ago. When the team had travelled to Morocco for the second leg of the Champions League tie, Gaxa committed two basic mistakes which gifted Raja two goals on a silver platter.

Also, turning back the clock to the second instalment of the Soweto Derby, Orlando Pirates winger Sifiso Myeni terrorised Gaxa with his skill. Although he was not completely outfoxed on the day, a much younger Gaxa would never have had that type of showboating performed against him.

When going forward, Gaxa just don’t look the same anymore. Even though he is one of the first names on the team sheet for our team, there are different aspects of his game which are beginning to be exposed.

Becoming less effective in going forward and suspicions beginning to creep in on one-on-one situations, is Gaxa losing his quality?