Soweto Derby Fever To Hit KZN
This weekend, the iconic Soweto Derby will be reignited in a thrilling exhibition match played in the northern KwaZulu-Natal town of Dondotha.
The occasion marks the grand opening of the newly built Dondotha Sports Complex, a R47 million project aimed at boosting sporting opportunities in the King Cetshwayo district.
The centerpiece of the event is a ceremony honoring former Orlando Pirates defender Siyabonga Sangweni, a local sporting hero. The state-of-the-art sports complex will be officially renamed in his honor by the Umfolozi municipality under King Cetshwayo.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sports and Recreation has confirmed the attendance of dignitaries like Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa. The event will also serve as a celebration of 30 years of democracy, highlighting government efforts to develop sports in previously disadvantaged areas.
Adding to the excitement, the official handover ceremony will be preceded by a legendary Soweto Derby exhibition match, featuring Orlando Pirates Legends and Kaizer Chiefs Legends. This will be followed by a clash between KwaZulu-Natal Legends and King Cetshwayo Legends. The complex itself boasts a main football field with a grandstand, additional training fields, an athletic field, cricket nets, and an outdoor gym. Furthermore, four combination courts offer opportunities for basketball, netball, tennis, volleyball, and 5-a-side soccer.
Siyabonga Nomvethe, who will play for Chiefs legend along with Derric Spencer and few others, has expressed enthusiasm for the event. Nomvethe, who played for both teams, playfully acknowledges the competitive spirit: “This coming weekend we are playing in the event of Sangweni, and we (Chiefs) are facing Orlando Pirates. It’s war, because they beat us in Mpumalanga (last time we played in such matches),” chuckled Bhele, who missed the penalty for Pirates against Chiefs in the ABSA Cup final in 2006 at Kings Park Stadium in Durban.