The new 2021/22 season will see an exciting new dawn for Nkosingiphile Ngcobo after the talented midfielder was handed the famous and legendary jersey #12 by Kaizer Chiefs.

The youngster has been wearing jersey #37 since his promotion from the junior ranks to the senior team at the start of the 2017/18 season.

“I am happy to be wearing jersey #12 because I’ve been told that it’s an iconic jersey for the Club and I’m willing to work hard and do my best,” says Ngcobo. “I specifically know that coach Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse wore jersey number #12 and he’s a legend of the Club. I need to work hard to ensure my name is included in the list of those who made the jersey number famous.”

Khuse first played in 1989 until 1993 then he moved to Turkey. He is now part of the Club’s development structures as a coach.

Other legends who donned the jersey include Thabo ‘Tsiki-Tsiki’ Mooki, whom the 21-year-old Ngcobo admits to having not seen in action because he was too young when Mooki was mesmerising fans with his dazzling display of football. Mooki played for Chiefs between 1994 and 2009 and featured in over 400 official matches.

Amakhosi’s all-time best player Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe was the first player to make the jersey famous as he wore it from 1970 to 1988. He went to play for 18 years for the Glamour Boys and remains the longest serving player for the Glamour Boys. The late Ntsoelengoe scored over 200 goals for Amakhosi, making him the Club’s all-time top goal scorer.

Ngcobo will kick off the new season joining other former players such as George Maluleka who also had an honour of carrying the famous number on his back.