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Pirates legend makes a return at 40

Battle-hardened former Orlando Pirates defender Rooi Mahamutsa has continued to defy odds by making a return to professional past his 40th birthday.

Eighteen months have passed since he last played in the professional ranks for the then Ajax Cape Town but veteran Rooi Mahamutsa has again proven that age is just a number for him.

Mahamutsa is now in the books of GladAfrica Championship club from his home province TS Sporting joining them after spending over a year holding on in the amateur ranks.

He has agreed on a deal running up to the end of the season and will have his former teammate Benson Mhlongo as his coach.

Scroll through the gallery to see the 10 oldest goalscorers in the PSL this season

Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City) – 33 years, 0 mo
Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City) – 33 years, 0 months & 1 day (v Royal AM, 25 Aug 2021)
Amigo Memela (AmaZulu) – 34 years, 1 month & 1 day
Amigo Memela (AmaZulu) – 34 years, 1 month & 1 day (v TS Galaxy, 19 Oct 2021)
Ndumiso Mabena (Royal AM) – 34 years, 3 months & 6
Ndumiso Mabena (Royal AM) – 34 years, 3 months & 6 days (v Cape Town City, 25 Aug 2021)
Thamsanqa Gabuza (SuperSport United) – 34 years, 3
Thamsanqa Gabuza (SuperSport United) – 34 years, 3 months & 24 days (v Marumo Gallants, 20 Nov 2021)
Mbulelo Wambi (Swallows FC) – 34 years, 7 months &
Mbulelo Wambi (Swallows FC) – 34 years, 7 months & 28 days (v Royal AM, 22 Aug 2021)
Happy Jele (Orlando Pirates) – 34 years, 9 months
Happy Jele (Orlando Pirates) – 34 years, 9 months & 1 day (v Cape Town City, 2 Oct 2021)
Lerato Lamola (Marumo Gallants) – 35 years, 5 mont
Lerato Lamola (Marumo Gallants) – 35 years, 5 months & 3 days (v SuperSport United, 20 Nov 2021)
Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs) – 35 years, 8 month
Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs) – 35 years, 8 months & 5 days (v Maritzburg United, 21 Nov 2021)
Willard Katsande (Sekhukhune United) – 35 years, 9
Willard Katsande (Sekhukhune United) – 35 years, 9 months & 12 days (v AmaZulu, 27 Oct 2021)
Scroll through the gallery to see the 10 oldest go
Scroll through the gallery to see the 10 oldest goalscorers in the 2021/22 PSL season so far

Mhlongo is a year older than Mahamutsa and the two spent four years as teammates at Pirates between 2008-12.

Following his arrival at TS Sporting – who have relegation matters to deal with – Mahamutsa will be expected to provide his experience in the 13 games that remain for this season.

Sporting currently sit on the last safety position with former PSL clubs Black Leopards and Jomo Cosmos below them.

On Saturday, the veteran defender made his debut for Sporting lasting 72 minutes before he was replaced by Dingaan Maphosa.

Mahamutsa was at Pirates during the double treble era years and won a total of seven trophies through his stay at the club.

He started 218 games and scored eight goals through the eight years that he was in the books of Orlando Pirates before moving to Free State Stars.

As a later bloomer who only broke into the PSL just before turning 27, Mahamutsa has persistently stated that he will not be influenced by his age or anyone to stop playing football.

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