Siyabonga Sangweni

Template:Short description Template:Use South African English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Doctor Siyabonga Sangweni (born 29 September 1981), known as Siyabonga Sangweni, is a retired South African soccer defender who used to play for Premier Soccer League club Orlando Pirates and South Africa.

His younger brother Thamsanqa Sangweni is also a footballer and he also played for Orlando Pirates.

Club career

Golden Arrows

Nsimbi as he is efficiently known as in the football circles sign for Abafana Bes'thende in 2005 from SAFA Second Division side Uthukela. He played well for Arrows and contributed to the club's first major silverware which was the MTN 8 in 2009. He attracted many clubs and eventually signed for Orlando Pirates in 2011.

Orlando Pirates

Sangweni signed with Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the 2011/12 season. Hailed as one of the best signings of the season due to his defensive abilities. He was a regular starter for Bafana Bafana while playing for Golden Arrows. Siyabonga became a regular at Orlando Pirates and went on to have 28 league appearances in his first season at Pirates. Due to him being very instrumental in the Pirates treble winning of the season, he was nominated as a Footballer of the Season which eventually went to the League's leading goalscorer, Siyabonga Nomvethe of Swallows. He has enjoyed much game-time along Lucky Lekgwathi and Rooi Mahamutsa. He got an injury that kept him to almost all the 2013/14 season.

Retirement

In a press conference on 7 April 2016, Pirates' chairman Irvin Khoza announced that Sangweni has been plagued by a string of injuries. Khoza said that after consultation, the medics have confirmed that the former Bafana Bafana centre back has to end his career early. Khoza said Sangweni, who has 29 Bafana caps with four goals, will be remembered as a club legend.

Career statistics

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	24 May 2010	Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Bulgaria	flag alias = Flag of Bulgaria.svg	flag alias-digital = Flag of Bulgaria (digital).svg	flag alias-1878 = Flag of Bulgaria.svg	flag alias-1947 = Flag of Bulgaria (1946–1948).svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Bulgaria (1948–1967).svg	flag alias-1968 = Flag of Bulgaria (1967-1971).svg	flag alias-1971 = Flag of Bulgaria (1971–1990).svg	flag alias-naval-1879 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1878-1944).svg	flag alias-naval-1949 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1949-1955).svg	flag alias-naval-1955 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria (1955-1990).svg	flag alias-naval-1991 = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria 1991-2005.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-naval = Bulgarian Navy	flag alias-army = War flag of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-army = Bulgarian Land Forces	link alias-air force = Bulgarian Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bulgaria.svg	link alias-navy = Bulgarian Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 1–1 || Draw || Friendly
2.	15 May 2011	Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Tanzania	flag alias = Flag of Tanzania.svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Tanzania (WFB 2000).png	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Tanzania (2004 World Factbook).gif	link alias-army = Tanzanian Army	link alias-naval = Tanzania Naval Command	link alias-navy = Tanzania Naval Command	size =	variant =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || 1–0 || Win || Friendly
3.	23 January 2013	Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Angola	flag alias = Flag of Angola.svg	link alias-naval = Angolan Navy	link alias-army = Angolan Army	link alias-navy = Angolan Navy	link alias-military = Angolan Armed Forces	link alias-air force = National Air Force of Angola	size =	name =	altlink = national football team }} || 2–0 || Win || 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
4.	27 January 2013	Moses Mabhida Stadium, South Africa	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Morocco	flag alias = Flag of Morocco.svg	flag alias-1666 = Flag of Morocco (1666–1915).svg	flag alias-1913 = Flag of Spanish Morocco.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Morocco.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Morocco.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Moroccan Navy	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Air Force.png	link alias-air force = Royal Moroccan Air Force	flag alias-army = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Army.svg	link alias-army = Royal Moroccan Army	flag alias-navy = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Navy.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Moroccan Navy	flag alias-military = Flag of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.svg	link alias-military = Royal Moroccan Armed Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} || 2–2 || Draw || 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Lamontville Golden Arrows

• MTN 8: 2009

Orlando Pirates

• MTN 8: 2011
• Telkom Knockout: 2011
• Nedbank Cup: 2013–14
• Premier Soccer League: 2011–12
• CAF Champions League: Runners-up 2013
• CAF Confederation Cup: Runners-up 2015

See also

• List of African association football families

External links

• Template:PAGENAMEBASE at National-Football-Teams.com