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Siyabonga Nomvethe (born December 2, 1977) is a South African professional football (soccer) player who has played in several European leagues, and who currently plays for Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga. Nomvethe has represented the Bafana Bafana (South Africa national football team) since 6 May 1999, and he took part in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Siyabonga "Bhele" Nomvethe was born in the township of KwaMashu south of Durban in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. He started playing as a striker for the Durban-based lower league club Durban Cosmos in 1994,^[1] from which he moved to Claremont Blizzards.

When Claremont Blizzards folded the following year, Nomvethe moved to African Wanderers in the second best South African league. He helped the club secure promotion and Siyabonga made his first appearances in the Premier Soccer League, playing alongside later Bafana Bafana striker Sibusiso Zuma. In July 1998, he moved on to become a part of the striking force of Kaizer Chiefs. Following 42 goals in 79 games for Kaizer Chiefs, Nomvethe moved abroad in 2001. Nomvethe was then already touted as a coming star for the Bafana Bafana.^[2]

He signed with Italian club Udinese Calcio of the Serie A championship. In 2002 he was selected to play for South Africa at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Here he made his presence clear when scoring the winning goal of the 1-0 win against Slovenia.^[3] Following two unsuccessful years at Udinese, Nomvethe was loaned out to smaller Italian clubs Salernitana Calcio and Empoli F.C. from January 2004 to June 2005. He was subsequently loaned out for six months to Djurgårdens IF in Sweden, before he permanently left Udinese in December 2005. He moved back to South Africa, signing on for Orlando Pirates.^[4]

In July 2006, he once again moved abroad, this time to play for Aalborg BK in Denmark.

1. ^ Dasen Thathiah, Siyabonga Nomvete, Durban.gov.za
2. ^ World Cup 2002: South Africa: Siyabonga Nomvete, ESPN, 2002
3. ^ Bafana Bafana 1 - Slovenia 0, Safa.net, June 8, 2002
4. ^ Sy Lerman, Striker Nomvete joins the Buccaneers, Mail & Guardian, December 24, 2005

• Aalborg BK profile
• Career stats at Danmarks Radio

v • d • e South Africa squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Vonk • 2 Nzama • 3 Carnell • 4 A. Mokoena • 5 Lekgetho • 6 Sibaya • 7 Fortune • 8 Mngomeni • 9 Mukansi • 10 Mnguni • 11 Pule • 12 T. Mokoena • 13 Issa • 14 Nomvethe • 15 Zuma • 16 Arendse • 17 McCarthy • 18 Buckley • 19 Radebe • 20 Marlin • 21 Pienaar • 22 Molefe • 23 Koumantarakis • Coach: Sono