It’s not often you can say a player is entering the peak of their career in their late 30s, but that seems to be the case for Orlando Pirates midfielder Makhehlene Makhaula as he makes a case for Soccer Laduma Player of the Season.
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This season, there is a youthful exuberance emanating from the Orlando Stadium. Relebohile Mofokeng has taken a massive leap forward, leading the Buccaneers’ respective title charges on all fronts, while Mohau Nkota has also risen within the Pirates ranks, becoming a pivotal figure in the side. Late in the season, Mbekezeli Mbokazi has emerged as an important part of Jose Riveiro’s defence.
While the DStv Diski Challenge graduates have been a source of pride for the Soweto giants, another player on the opposite end of the age spectrum has had an equally vital role in the team’s success this season—Makhaula.
Upon arriving at the home of the 1995 African champions last season, the 35-year-old played a bit-part role under Riveiro in his debut campaign. In that first season with Pirates, he started 15 of the 19 matches he featured in, while he was either left out of the squad or benched for 17 games, according to Transfermarkt.
This season, however, the Kagiso native has been an ever-present figure for Pirates, having played 43 matches thus far and missing only five games all season.
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He has screened the defence superbly, allowing the likes of Thalente Mbatha and Patrick Maswanganyi greater attacking freedom. His consistent inclusion in the line-up has coincided with Pirates competing on all fronts—they are currently vying for the Betway Premiership, reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals, having already won the MTN 8. As a result, many now see him as a dark horse in the race for Soccer Laduma Player of the Season.
