Kaizer Chiefs Soweto derby

On the eve of the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, a look at the key numbers through the years. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Longest-serving Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates players

Amakhosi have plenty of veterans on their books — certainly more than Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.

Kaizer Chiefs Soweto derby

On the eve of the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, a look at the key numbers through the years. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs are set to bid farewell to one of their longest-serving players soon as George Maluleka prepares to join Mamelodi Sundowns.

The veterans

Itumeleng Khune, the Glamour Boys’ longest-serving current player, earned a promotion to the Kaizer Chiefs first team in 2004, but he only really consolidated his place after Rowen Fernández joined Arminia Bielefeld in 2007.

For the best part of 13 years, Khune has been the undisputed number one at Kaizer Chiefs. His long-term injury woes and Daniel Akpeyi’s good form has, however, now cast doubt upon that.

Orlando Pirates captain Happy Jele is the only other player at either Soweto giant to have served for more than a decade.

Jele has been around since 2006-07. After Oupa Manyisa’s 2017 transferred to Mamelodi Sundowns, he became the Buccaneers’ captain.

Pirates’ second-longest serving player is Mthokozisi Dube, discounting his loan spells at Sivutsa Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic.

Bernard Parker, Willard Katsande, Kgotso Moleko, and Erick Mathoho have all been at Kaizer Chiefs for longer than Dube has been with the Buccaneers first team.

Maluleka is Amakhosi’s next longest-serving player, having arrived in January 2014. That same month saw Ntsikelelo Nyauza join Orlando Pirates.

Siyabonga Mpontshane is the only other player from either side to have served five years. He joined Pirates from Platinum Stars in January 2015. He, too, looks set for the exit door having fallen down the pecking order.