Posted in News, Team News on Feb 03, 2019.
Many pundits believe Patrick Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe is the best player ever to don the Kaizer Chiefs jersey. The late skillful playmaker also holds the record of the most goals scored in the history of the Soweto Derby – 19 in total.
Ntsoelengoe was born on 26 February 1952 in Randfontein – the location was called Didi Township at the time. He joined Chiefs after having been part of a Randfontein Home Stars side that beat the Kaizer Chiefs XI twice in consecutive matches in 1969, a rarity.
Chairman Kaizer Motaung had seen enough, didn’t waste time and immediately roped the midfielder in. Ntsoelengoe was only 17 at the time. He retired at the end of 1989, after having won numerous league and cup trophies with Kaizer Chiefs, which was founded on 7 January 1970.
‘Ace’ was a special player – for example, scoring more as a midfielder than the strikers, because of his ability to pop up in the opponent’s box at the right time. Ntsoelengoe could also dribble, was a brilliant passer of the ball and had the ability to do the unthinkable. He was voted as the NPSL’s first Footballer of the Year in 1971.
He was an immensely intelligent player, who was forever strategising with his teammates on the field how to slightly change the tactics to get the upper hand over the opponents.
Besides playing for Chiefs, ‘Ace’ played for 11 seasons in America’s NASL: Miami Torres (1973), Denver Dynamos (1975), Minnesota Kicks (1976-81) and Toronto Blizzard (1983-1984). He scored 87 times during his time in America (eighth on the NASL’s career list) and had 82 assists in 244 games.
The NASL folded after the 1984 season. Ntsoelengoe was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
After his playing days, he became part of Amakhosi’s coaching staff, both at the first team and the youth development structures. He passed away on 8 May 2006 at the age of 50.
“Ace’s strongest point was that he always made the game look simple – the sign of a truly great player,” Amakhosi Chairman, ‘Chincha Guluva’ once said about Ntsoelengoe. “He was never flashy, but he was extremely effective. His vision and his ability to read the game were fantastic – those were aspects of the game that nobody could have taught him. Ace was unequalled in terms of his vision. Despite all his success as a player and the adoration of the fans, Ace always stayed a very humble being.”
The biggest games for Ntsoelengoe were, of course, the Soweto Derby. And, as it is for every top player – the bigger the game the better. ‘Ace’ always excelled in games against Orlando Pirates, hence his 19 goals.
Amazingly, Ntsoelengoe netted in three Soweto Derbies in a row in 1975, which was later matched by Jerry Sikhosana (1996) and Dennis Lota (1999-2000).
“Ace always starred at the Soweto Derby,” Chiefs’ legendary defender Jackie Masike looks back. “He was brave. Games against Orlando Pirates brought the best out of him. Ace’s performances were out of this world.”
Masike played with Ntsoelengoe in the seventies and early eighties. He remembers how Chiefs’ star player would tell his teammates before a Derby, “Guys, this is the Soweto Derby – we can’t lose this game. We must make our supporters feel proud.”
“Ace was never nervous before a Derby,” Masike continues. “He enjoyed playing each and every game, but especially against Orlando Pirates. He loved to play in front of a packed stadium, the bigger the crowd the better. He was really brave, never being nervy to play a game of football.”
“Ace was special,” the former defender concludes. “I can’t even compare him with anyone. He was by far the best South African player I have ever seen.”
Ntsoelengoe was born on 26 February 1952 in Randfontein – the location was called Didi Township at the time. He joined Chiefs after having been part of a Randfontein Home Stars side that beat the Kaizer Chiefs XI twice in consecutive matches in 1969, a rarity.
Chairman Kaizer Motaung had seen enough, didn’t waste time and immediately roped the midfielder in. Ntsoelengoe was only 17 at the time. He retired at the end of 1989, after having won numerous league and cup trophies with Kaizer Chiefs, which was founded on 7 January 1970.
‘Ace’ was a special player – for example, scoring more as a midfielder than the strikers, because of his ability to pop up in the opponent’s box at the right time. Ntsoelengoe could also dribble, was a brilliant passer of the ball and had the ability to do the unthinkable. He was voted as the NPSL’s first Footballer of the Year in 1971.
He was an immensely intelligent player, who was forever strategising with his teammates on the field how to slightly change the tactics to get the upper hand over the opponents.
Besides playing for Chiefs, ‘Ace’ played for 11 seasons in America’s NASL: Miami Torres (1973), Denver Dynamos (1975), Minnesota Kicks (1976-81) and Toronto Blizzard (1983-1984). He scored 87 times during his time in America (eighth on the NASL’s career list) and had 82 assists in 244 games.
The NASL folded after the 1984 season. Ntsoelengoe was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
After his playing days, he became part of Amakhosi’s coaching staff, both at the first team and the youth development structures. He passed away on 8 May 2006 at the age of 50.
“Ace’s strongest point was that he always made the game look simple – the sign of a truly great player,” Amakhosi Chairman, ‘Chincha Guluva’ once said about Ntsoelengoe. “He was never flashy, but he was extremely effective. His vision and his ability to read the game were fantastic – those were aspects of the game that nobody could have taught him. Ace was unequalled in terms of his vision. Despite all his success as a player and the adoration of the fans, Ace always stayed a very humble being.”
The biggest games for Ntsoelengoe were, of course, the Soweto Derby. And, as it is for every top player – the bigger the game the better. ‘Ace’ always excelled in games against Orlando Pirates, hence his 19 goals.
Amazingly, Ntsoelengoe netted in three Soweto Derbies in a row in 1975, which was later matched by Jerry Sikhosana (1996) and Dennis Lota (1999-2000).
“Ace always starred at the Soweto Derby,” Chiefs’ legendary defender Jackie Masike looks back. “He was brave. Games against Orlando Pirates brought the best out of him. Ace’s performances were out of this world.”
Masike played with Ntsoelengoe in the seventies and early eighties. He remembers how Chiefs’ star player would tell his teammates before a Derby, “Guys, this is the Soweto Derby – we can’t lose this game. We must make our supporters feel proud.”
“Ace was never nervous before a Derby,” Masike continues. “He enjoyed playing each and every game, but especially against Orlando Pirates. He loved to play in front of a packed stadium, the bigger the crowd the better. He was really brave, never being nervy to play a game of football.”
“Ace was special,” the former defender concludes. “I can’t even compare him with anyone. He was by far the best South African player I have ever seen.”
