The Kaizer Chiefs Legends and their counterparts from Orlando Pirates will play against each other this Saturday afternoon to honour the late Ace Ntsoelengoe, who passed away ten years ago on 8 May 2006.

The game will take place at Randfontein’s Mohlakeng Stadium (kick-off is at 15:00).

“It’s a big honour to play for Ace,” Chiefs’ legends captain Cyril Nzama notes.

The still speedy right-back tells an anecdote about Ace Ntsoelengoe: “Before the 2002 World Cup, there was a legends game held in South-Korea. Ace was part of that match. He asked to borrow my boots, which I did.

“And those same boots Ace used for the legends game, I used thereafter for my three matches with South Africa at the World Cup. It felt wonderful and I played a great World Cup, thanks to Ace.”

Other Amakhosi legends playing this afternoon against Pirates include Siyabonga Nkosi, Derrick Spencer, Cyril Nzama, Tshepo Molatedi, Abel Shongwe, Wellington Manyathi, Frank Makua and Gardner Seale.

The Legends Derby is part of a weekend to honour the tenth anniversary of Ntsoelengoe’s passing.

“Ace is one of our all-time best players,” Nzama observes about Ntsoelengoe, who starred for Chiefs in the seventies and eighties.

The commemoration events started yesterday with the Mayoral Golf Invitational tournament. The funds raised will go to the Ace Ntsoelengoe Foundation.

Thereafter a dinner was held, which was attended, among others, by Ntsoelengoe’s former teammates like Computer Lamola, Banks Sethlodi, Big Boy Kholoane, Jackie Masike and Lucky Stylianou.

On Saturday, the events will start with the finals of the primary and high school soccer competitions at Randfontein’s Mohlakeng Stadium.

The legends match between Amakhosi and the Buccaneers will start at 15:00.

On Sunday, there will be a wreath laying at Ntsoelengoe’s gravesite.

This will be followed at noon with the renaming of the Mohlakeng Stadium and the unveiling of the plaque ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe Stadium.

About today’s Legends Derby, Nzama adds: “There are no friendly matches between Chiefs and Pirates, not even when we legends play each other. We have respect for each other, but we both want to win. We will make sure the crowd will be entertained.”