Marumo Gallants striker Gabadinho Mhango has opened up on why he thinks PSL legend Elias Pelembe, popularly known as Domingues, remains evergreen even at the age of 42.

Pelembe is the oldest player at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations where he is part of the Mozambique squad and continues to put in a shift even at his advanced age.

The former SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns forward played a vital part as Mozambique stunned Gabon 3-2 on Sunday to keep alive their hopes off advancing to the Round of 16 while securing their first-ever victory at AFCON.

Mhango, who is 33 and has been termed ‘old’ already, says players are getting mis-profiled when they hit 30 yet that is when they become serious and take care of their bodies, using the case of Pelembe as an example.

Mhango on why Elias Pelembe still looks 16

“In Africa, as long as you hit 30, you are old and in Europe when you reach 30, now you become a footballer. You become more experienced and all,” Mhango said on SuperSport TV when anaysling the match between Mozambique and Gabon.

“I think age is just a number. Pelembe is 40 but he has a body of a guy who is 16 years old,” added the former Golden Arrows, Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates striker.

Mhango believes players become more aware of themselves and take football seriously as they advance in age and feels it could be the reason Pelembe is still top of his game after so many years in the sport.

“You become matured to the football. You become experienced. At the age of 20, you are just playing football for fun but when you become to 30s, you play football for business,” added the Malawian forward.

Domingues achieved legendary status in the PSL

“It is no longer fun anymore. You play for business because you are coming to the end of your career.”

Pelembe was a surprise signing for SuperSport United in 2007 but lit up the PSL, firing Gavin Hunt’s side to back-to-back league titles, while he was voted Player of the Season in 2008.

He would move to Sundowns in 2009 where he played for six years and linked up with Hunt again at Wits, winning the 2016-17 PSL crown together, and after spells at Polokwane City and Royal AM, he returned home to Mozambique where he plays for UD Songo.

Pelembe, who has made over 120 appearances for Mozambique, became the oldest-ever outfield player to make an AFCON appearance when he was introduced in the 67^th minute of the Mambas’ 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast before he started Sunday’s clash against Gabon.