8 May 2006
The Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Barbara Creecy,
learned with shock of the death of soccer legend Pule "Ace" Ntsoelengoe.
"South Africa has lost one of the talented midfielders. His contribution to
the development of South African football will be deeply missed," the MEC said.
During his life Ntsoelengoe was a technical director of development at the
Kaizer Chiefs soccer club. His soccer career spanned over 30 years. Ntsoelengoe
played for Kaizer Chiefs in the 1970s and 1980s before he went to North America
where he played for 11 years.
In 2003, Ntsoelengoe was inducted into the United States National Hall of
Fame. This supremely talented footballer was voted in alongside seven other
players, including Carlos Alberto, the former captain of Brazil's 1970 World
Cup winner squad. Ntsoelengoe will be remembered as one of the most gifted
players South Africa has ever produced.
It is unfortunate that Ntsoelengoe will not witness the 2010 World Cup.
Those who played with him describe him as an intelligent, awesome presence in
the midfield and a player who stood head and shoulders above all players. "It
is heartbreaking to lose a person of Ace's statute in an infantry stage of the
preparation for the 2010 World Cup," said Creecy.
"On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, we wish to convey our
heartfelt condolences to the Ntsoelengoe family, Management and Team members of
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club and members of the soccer fraternity at large," she
said.
May his soul rest in peace.
Enquiries:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 0868
Issued by: Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
8 May 2006
Source: SAPA
