Former Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni will receive a prestigious honor from his hometown Umfolozi municipality under King Cetshwayo. The Dondotha sports complex, which R47 million was spent, will be officially renamed in his honor at a ceremony held this Saturday.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports and Recreation confirmed the news, highlighting the presence of dignitaries like Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa.

“This coming Saturday there’s handover of an iconic Dondotha sports complex in honor of the legendary Siyabonga “Nsimbi” Sangweni,” said the statement from the department of sport in KZN. 

“It’s so significant Minister Zizi Kodwa is coming down to join MEC Mahlaba. There’s also at least two other programme’s including the Stanger Museum opening.” 

Born in Dondotha, Sangweni carved a successful career, leaving his mark on both Pirates and Golden Arrows. He played a key role in Golden Arrows’ 2009/10 MTN8 triumph under coach Manqoba Mngqithi, where Abafana Bes’Thende thrashed Cape Town Spurs 6-0 at Orlando Stadium.

Following his move to Orlando Pirates in the 2011/12 season, Sangweni became part of a historic treble-winning team under Augusto Palacios. This feat marked the second consecutive treble for the Soweto giants. Notably, Sangweni scored the crucial goal in the final league game against his former club, Arrows, at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The match ended 4-2 in Pirates’ favor, with Benni McCarthy adding a brace.

Sangweni’s trophy cabinet with Pirates doesn’t end there. He was part of the team that lifted the Nedbank Cup in the 2013/14 season, defeating Bidvest Wits at Moses Mabhida Stadium. While he experienced heartbreak in the CAF Champions League finals of 2013 and the Confederation Cup in 2015, his contributions remain undeniable.

A formidable defender known for his set-piece prowess, Sangweni’s career was cut short due to medical reasons, forcing his retirement in the 2015/16 season as announced by Pirates.

On the international stage, Sangweni donned the Bafana Bafana jersey 29 times, finding the net on four occasions. One of his most significant goals came in the dramatic 90th-minute equalizer against Morocco during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group stage, played in Durban.

This goal proved crucial, as it knocked Morocco out of the competition while securing Bafana Bafana’s passage to the knockout stages. He also scored in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 victory over Angola in the same tournament before their journey under coach Gordon Igesund ended in a quarter-final penalty shootout loss to Mali, again held in Durban.

This ceremony serves as a fitting tribute to Sangweni, a local hero who excelled both for club and country.