Patrick Ntsoelengoe
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Pule Zolile Ntsoelengoe | ||
| Date of birth | 26 February 1952 | ||
| Place of birth |
Transvaal, Union of South Africa | ||
| Date of death | 8 May 2006 (aged 54) | ||
| Place of death | Lenasia, Gauteng, South Africa | ||
| Position(s) |
Striker, Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Powerlines | |||
| 1968 | Mohlakeng Home Stars | ||
| 1969–1970 |
Kaizer XI | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1971–1988 |
Kaizer Chiefs | 542 | (250) |
| 1973 | Miami Toros | 9 | (3) |
| 1975 | Denver Dynamos | 21 | (10) |
| 1976–1981 | Minnesota Kicks | 155 | (50) |
| 1979–1980 | Minnesota Kicks (indoor) | 5 | (2) |
| 1982–1984 |
Toronto Blizzard | 59 | (23) |
| 1986–1988 | Toronto Blizzard | ||
| Total | 791 | (338) | |
| International career | |||
| 1977 | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1985 | Ace's Mates | ||
| 1997 |
South Africa U-23 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Patrick Pule "Ace" Ntsoelengoe OIS (26 February 1952[1] – 8 May 2006) was a South African soccer player who is widely considered as one of the greatest the country has ever produced.[2]
Early life
Ntsoelengoe was born to Daniel Ndimande and Margaret Ntsoelengoe. Ntsoelengoe did not grow up with his parents, as they were not yet married when he was born. The Ntsoelengoe surname comes from his grandmother, who raised him until his parents got married. His surname remained unchanged after this.
Ntsoelengoe was a close friend to
Playing career
Ntsoelengoe spent almost his entire career with
In total he played 11 seasons in the
He made his name, however, with the
When that franchise moved to
Ntsoelengoe represented
Managing career
In 1985, he tried to start up his own team like Kaizer Motaung had. He called it Ace's Mates. It only ran for one year.
In 1997, he was manager of the
Style of play
Former Argentinean manager Oscar Martinez remarked that the midfielder was "almost a perfect footballer. He can dribble, he can shoot, he can attack, and he can defend. He is good in the air, good on the ground and good everywhere you can think of." when the South African Invitational XI hammered an Argentina XI 5–1. Former South African national coach Clive Barker insisted the Chiefs legend was as gifted as Zinedine Zidane.[4]
Death
"Ace" died of a
In 2008, he was posthumously awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver).[2]
North American Soccer League Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Miami Toros | 9 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 1975 | Denver Dynamos | 21 | 10 | 5 | 25 |
| 1976 | Minnesota Kicks | 22 | 6 | 4 | 16 |
| 1977 | Minnesota Kicks | 21 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| 1978 | Minnesota Kicks | 29 | 9 | 8 | 26 |
| 1979 | Minnesota Kicks | 29 | 8 | 11 | 27 |
| 1980 | Minnesota Kicks | 32 | 13 | 17 | 43 |
| 1981 | Minnesota Kicks | 22 | 12 | 7 | 31 |
| 1982 | Toronto Blizzard
|
32 | 14 | 12 | 40 |
| 1983 | Toronto Blizzard | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 1984 | Toronto Blizzard | 21 | 8 | 8 | 24 |
| 11-Year Totals | 244 | 87 | 82 | 256 | |
References
- ^ "Blue Ribbon - Patrick 'Ace' Ntsoelengoe | Soccer Laduma". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Ace: South Africa's greatest footballer?". www.southafrica.info. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013.
- ^ m.kaizerchiefs.com/?artId=329805&i=4690&showonly=1
- ^ a b sasahof.co.za/pule__ace__ntsoelengoe.html [dead link]
- ^ "Patrick Ntsoelengoe - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Patrick Ntsoelengoe - 2003 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Baxter, James (26 May 1986). "Blizzard dominates Roma Ntsoelengoe dazzles with footwork". The Globe and Mail. p. C2.
- ^ "Andries Maseko - A South African Football Legend". www.soccerladuma.co.za. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "The greatest player you never saw". BBC Sport. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2010.