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Ace Ntsoelengoe

Ace Ntsoelengoe
Personal information
Full name Patrick Pule Zolile Ntsoelengoe
Date of birth (1952-02-26)February 26, 1952
Place of birth Randfontein, South Africa
Date of death May 8, 2006(2006-05-08) (aged 54)
Place of death Lenasia, Gauteng, South Africa
Playing position 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)
Total 791 (338)
National team
1977 South Africa
Teams managed
1985 Ace's Mates
1997 South Africa U-23
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Patrick Pule "Ace" Ntsoelengoe (26 February 1952 – 8 May 2006) was a South African football (soccer) player who is widely considered as one of the greatest the country has ever produced.

Ntsoelengoe was born to Daniel Ndimande and Margaret Ntsoelengoe. Ntsoelengoe did not grow up with his parents, his parents were not yet married when he was born, hence the Ntsoelengoe surname, he was raised by his grandmother. His parents eventually got married but his surname was never changed. Ntsoelengoe was a good singer . He was a close friend to Mbongeni Ngema. He was also played in tennis and used to practice at a tennis court next to his home. He was also played the organ and the guitar earning the nickname "Quincy Jones" Ntsoelengoe grew up playing soccer with other boys in the street. He later joined an amateur coloured team, Powerlines and when he moved to Mohlakeng he joined Mohlakeng Home Stars and started to gain popularity. In 1969, when Kaizer XI played Randfontein XI he impressed Kaizer XI, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows. He joined Kaizer XI at the age of 17. Ntsoelengoe's father, Daniel (born 1934), played semi-professional football with Randfontein Young Zebras. He inspired the affectionate nickname 'Ace'.

Ntsoelengoe spent almost his entire career with Kaizer Chiefs in his home country. During the local offseason he usually played in the United States and Canada.

In total he played 11 seasons in the North American Soccer League, beginning in 1973 with the Miami Toros. He is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.


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