Zambian veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has said maintaining a healthy lifestyle has been the secret to his consistent performances for DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.

Speaking to Sundowns website, Mweene said he was not ‘that old’ at the age of 37 to struggle to compete at the highest level.

“One thing you have to do is to remain positive; you must train smart especially when you are at my age,” he told the website.

Mweene spoke about his form after his telling performance for Sundowns last weekend when they stunned CAF Champions League holders Al Ahly 1-0 in Cairo, Egypt.

“It all goes back to training; the kind of training we do with coach Wendell [Robinson]. I’m not that old so I think one just has to look after themselves and to see what you put in your system. It’s always looking after yourself, you cannot cheat at football at the end of the day,”he said.

Mweene spoke ahead of the Champions League return leg against the Pitso Mosimane-led Al Ahly on Saturday at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Sundowns lead the table on seven points and want to consolidate their top spot whereas Al Ahly are gunning for a second win to keep their chances of sailing through alive from Group A.

The keeper remains sidelined from Zambia national team, which he helped win the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 2012 after beating favourites Ivory Coast on post-match penalties.

Mweene is among the most capped players in African football history alongside the likes of Malawian Jack Chamangwana (deceased), Egyptian Hassan Hossam and Rigobert Song of Cameroon.