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Orlando Pirates have already submitted an insurance claim for retired defender Siyabonga Sangweni.
Kaizer Chiefs will also submit a claim for defender Jimmy Jambo, who retired from football last season.
All Premier Soccer League players and officials are covered by Delphisure Group Insurance Brokers for death and career-ending injuries.
This week, veteran defender Sangweni (34) announced his retirement from football on medical advice. The centre back has been struggling with a knee injury, which has cut his career short.
Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza told City Press that the club had already submitted an insurance claim on behalf of the player.
He was quick to add that the club would not share the payout.
“We are confident of the claim because we submitted all the evidence. But as the club, we will not share the money,” said Khoza, who refused to divulge the amount.
He said the club sought a second opinion in February after receiving a letter from the player detailing the medical advice.
“We were surprised to get Sangweni’s letter on January 29. We sought a second opinion because we know him to be a strong character. This is a big loss to the club.”
Khoza paid tribute to Sangweni, saying he would be missed.
He announced his retirement publicly, in recognition of the player’s contribution to the club. “They don’t come in his quality any more. He was selfless and understood why he was in the starting line-up. He has natural leadership skills and stabilised our dressing room.” He added that this was despite the fact that Sangweni came across as an introvert.
Khoza said he was touched when Sangweni postponed his wedding to be on club duty.
“He ... respected the call of patriotic duty. He had to call off his matrimonial vows four days before the wedding. Not many people would have made that call at the expense of their family. That proved his commitment. In the five years he has been with us, he achieved a lot and helped put the club on the map.”
Sangweni played only six league games this season. His last match was the CAF Confederation Cup final in November, held in Tunisia against Étoile du Sahel, which had caused him to postpone his wedding.
. Meanwhile, Chiefs general manager for football Bobby Motaung said they would submit their claim for Jambo, who retired from football in 2014 after suffering a horrific knee injury, but they first wanted assurances from Jambo that he would not play again.
Many will remember Siyabonga Sangweni for his well-taken goal against Morocco that booked Bafana Bafana a place in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Since entering the professional football scene in 2005, Sangweni had all the attributes of not only becoming an exceptional defender and leader but a goal scorer.
In 29 appearances for Bafana, he netted four goals.
Sangweni became an instant hit at Golden Arrows in 2005 with his no-nonsense approach and clean tackles.
He contributed to their survival in the league and it did not come as a surprise that, three seasons after he left, the club was relegated. He was a constant feature at the KwaZulu-Natal side, where he played 150 matches.
He became hot property in SA football, with Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates all vying for his signature. He eventually signed for the Buccaneers, where he went on to achieve a lot.
The stopper became a regular from his first season – in which he played 28 league games. He was so instrumental in Pirates winning a treble that he was nominated for Footballer of the Season in 2012.
He helped Pirates reach two continental competitions – the CAF Champions League in 2013 and the Confederation Cup in 2015 – but unfortunately he won neither.
Sangweni has not been the same since suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the game for a long time.
