Siyabonga Sangweni’s dream lives on

THE uMfolozi Municipality’s dream to build the soccer academy, to be named after Siyabonga ‘Nsimbi’ Sangweni to shape and nurture the youth football talent, is still on track.

At the annual soccer spectacular, held at Dondotha Sport Ground in June 2015, uMfolozi Municipality Mayor Cllr Smangaliso Mgenge, the Municipal Manager Khulumokwakhe Gamede in collaboration with Siyabonga Sangweni, the mayor announced the municipality, together with uThungulu Department of Sport and Recreation are planning to build a soccer academy within uMfolozi.

Addressing the media at the tournament held in Dondotha on Saturday, Mgenge said the dream of establishing the soccer academy still lives on.

‘When you come here in 12 months, this area’s landscape will have changed completely,’ he stressed. Mgenge continued to say through using Sangweni as a brand, his municipality aims at showing the youth that sport and art can become their careers.

He also told the media the Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has appointed Sangweni as national sports’ ambassador, to focus on nurturing sport talent, especially in rural areas.

‘By using Sangweni as a brand we are aiming at fighting the rampant social ills among our youth, motivating them to focus on sport,’ Mgenge added.

Sangweni thanked everyone in his community, and said even though he has retired from professional football, he will always work hard to motivate and support the youth to focus on sport, so they too can change their lives and their families for the better.

‘I also pass my gratitude to uMfolozi Municipality for helping to make this tournament a success,’ said Nsimbi.
uThungulu District Head: Sport and Recreation Matilda Chiya said, ‘We want to create many Sangweni’s by developing football as a career. The youth need to learn they can survive through playing soccer.’