In a world where riches and fame become the undoing of many celebrities, more so those who forget where they come from, Amakhosi defender Siphiwe Mkhonza has decided to return to the place where his long road to football stardom began.

Mkhonza who will celebrates his 27th birthday next month, made a pledge that should he re-new his contract with The Amakhosi he would make a telling contribution to three schools on Gauteng’s East Rand which he attended. At the end of last season the enigmatic defender, who has thus far started all in both Chiefs games this season had his contract extended for three years, which will run out at the end of the 2008-2009 season.

Being true to his word Mkhonza will on Friday donate R15 000 worth of sports

equipment to three schools two of which are in Kwa – Thema where he was born and attended Primary School. It was while attending the Nkabinde Primary and Thulisa Primary School in Kwa Thema, that he took a liking to the sport and began playing in the schoolyard.

By the time he reached high school Mkhonza’s parents Skheshekheshe and Phindile Mkhonza moved to Katlehong, it was in Katlehong at the Kenneth Masikela Secondary School were he completed his matric that his football talents were exposed. As Siphiwe played an important part in ensuring that his high school team won a number of regional honours, and he also assisted them in qualifying and participated in a number of USSASA tournaments.

When Mkhonza signed his first contract with Chiefs at the start of the 2004 – 2005 season he began a relationship with an orphanage in Kwa- Thema, of which he remains a patron regularly helping them out financially as well as spending time fundraising for the facility.

His latest contribution is part of his over all plan to help various youth from the East Rand develop their sporting talents, with time the Chiefs defender is hopeful that he can motivate other prominent sports men and women as well as influential business people from the area to assist in the improvement in current sporting infrastructure in Kwa – Thema and Kathlehong.

Siphiwe will hand over the equipment to a representative of each of the three schools on Friday afternoon, with the ceremony taking place at the Kenneth Masikela Secondary School in Kathlehong, in addition he will also hand over one of his playing jerseys to each of the schools. The Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor Mr. Duma Nkosi will also attend the handing over ceremony.