Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.

The 38-year-old spent nearly two decades playing in South Africa when he first joined Free State Stars back in 2005, where he made 172 appearances across all competitions while keeping 54 clean sheets in the process.

He later parted ways with Free State ad joined Sundowns in 2013 and spent 10 years at the club in which he kept 57 clean sheets in 120 appearances in all competitions.

Mweene is one of the most decorated players in South Africa and has won 16 trophies including Baymed Cup with Free State, the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia and eight league titles, Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup with Sundowns.

“My ten years at Sundowns as a football player has been emotional. I’ve shared the dressing room with a lot of good players at Sundowns and now it’s time to celebrate. I’ve achieved all these things because of the people around me,” Mweene told his club’s official website.

“Football has taken me to places which I never dreamt that one day I’d be able to share the same pitch with some of the great players that Africa has ever offered. There’s league trophies we have won. I have won eight PSL titles, two Nedbank Cups, two Telkom, a Champions League as well as the Super Cup.”

Over the course of his career, Mweene has made 292 appearances across all competitions and kept 111 clean sheets playing for Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I am hanging up my boots and gloves because I think I have played my part at both national level and club level,” he added.

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to my life. Most of the coaches I’ve gone through have made me a better person, a better player as well, it was a successful career and I don’t think it could have happened anywhere else apart from Sundowns.”

Photo by EPA/KHALED ELFIQI