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T R A I L B L A Z E R

In July 1998, he joined Kaizer Chiefs and made his
debut on 8 August 1998 and scored in a 2–1 loss
to Bloemfontein Celtic. He scored 42 goals in 79
games for Chiefs. In the same season, he missed
Bhele’s spirit is with all South Africans who are
out soccer action for a few months following an celebrating the milestone of 25th anniversary of
injury. On his return later in the season, he scored
democracy and here how he feels about:
a total of eight goals.
“Democracy means a lot to me. It means freedom

of movement but most importantly it is about
Replacing Pollen Ndlanya who left the team,
justice. As a young boy from KwaMashu who
Nomvethe scored 22 goals in all competitions,
went to local public schools and matriculated at
including three goals in the BobSave Super Bowl
Umzuvele High School, I never thought one day I
to help Chiefs win their first silverware of the new
will become a professional football player and
millennium.
represent my country internationally. To tell you

something interesting, I was never a football fan,
Nomvethe scored 11 goals on either half of the
during big games in and around Durban, I’d go
season and scored Chiefs first goal of the
there with my friends not watch matches at all
millennium on 8 January 2000 against his old
but sell peanuts and stuff to make extra cash for
team African Wanderers. He scored 18 goals in all
myself.
competitions the next season, scoring his tenth

against Ria Stars on 21 January 2001. He scored
“I hold a same view with those who believe that
his last goal on 24 April 2001 in a 5–0 win
democracy made things easier and much more
drubbing of Bloemfontein Celtic in a BobSave
possible for football players of post-apartheid.
Super Bowl quarterfinal; that goal was his 58th
Things were very tough in the olden days,
for Chiefs.
and I am very grateful to those whose fought for

freedom because that gave us a chance to explore
In 2001, Nomvethe signed with Italian club
opportunities outside South Africa. Look, today
Udinese Calcio of the Serie A. In 2002, he was
my contribution in the game is recognised and I
selected to play for South Africa at the 2002 FIFA
am honoured as Dr Siyabonga Nomvethe. It is
World Cup. He scored the winning goal of the 1-0
very exciting and humbling. I wish South Africa
win over Slovenia. From January 2004 to June
happy 25 years of democracy.”
2005 he was loaned out to smaller Italian clubs
Salernitana Calcio and Empoli F.C. He was
subsequently loaned out for six months to
Djurgårdens IF in Sweden, before permanently
leaving Udinese in December 2005 to sign with “Things were very tough in
Orlando Pirates here at home.
the olden days, and I am
In 2006, he moved to play for Aalborg very grateful to
Boldspilklub (AaB) in the Danish Superliga. He those whose fought for
stayed with AaB for three years, won the Danish
Superliga 2007-08 championship with the club, freedom because that gave
and scored a goal in the penalty shoot-out as AaB us a chance to explore
was eliminated by Manchester City in the UEFA opportunities
Cup 2008-09 round of 16. In 2009, he came back
home and joined Moroka Swallows. In January outside South Africa.”
2016, he joined AmaZulu FC and eventually
retired from the club in 2019. A few weeks after
announcing his retirement, St Paul Bible Institute
honoured Nomvethe with an Honorary Doctoral
Degree in Sport in June 2019.

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