R’fontein honours soccer legend
Mayor: Ace was larger than life. He defied apartheid through his soccer skills.
Randfontein recently paid tribute to its famous son, the late soccer legend Patrick Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe, who passed away ten years ago.
To celebrate the life and times of the former Kaizer Chiefs legend and Randfonteiner by birth, a series of events took place over two weekends in May.
These included a fun run, an aerobics marathon, a Mayoral Golf Day and a soccer tournament, which saw the Orlando Pirates legends taking on the Kaizer Chiefs legends. Local primary schools engaged in the events as well.
Mzi Khumalo, Randfontein’s Executive Mayor, was one of the big names involved in the first Mayoral Golf Day held at the Randfontein Country Club.
Prior to the mayor’s official unveiling of a plaque and the renaming of the Mohlakeng Stadium, which will now be known as the Patrick Ace Ntsoelengoe Stadium, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at the Sterkfontein Cemetery where the former soccer maestro was laid to rest.
In paying tribute to the late legend, Khumalo said there was no way the legacy of Ace would die while he (Khumalo) remained in government.
Ace was larger than life and walked along the way walked by heroes and heroines. He defied apartheid through his soccer skill,” Khumalo said.
Thato Ntsoelengoe, wife of the late Ace, said she was more than excited for the mayor to have heeded the call when she approached him for this occasion.
Awards were made to several former legends from other sporting codes, who are also Randfontein residents, including Joseph ‘Banks’ Setlhodi (former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and Springbok with Ace); Peter ‘Terror’ Mathebula (first black boxer to be a world boxing champ); Bobang Phiri (400m athlete who represented South Africa at both the Barcelona and the Atlanta Olympic Games); Alladin Stephens (former SA boxing champ) and Moss Somo (a former bodybuilding champ).
The audience included Kaizer Chiefs players, coach Steve Khompela and team manager Bobby Motaung as guests of honour. They couldn’t contain their laughter at the jokes cracked by Sammy Fever Mashabane from Motsweding FM, who was the master of ceremonies.
Mzwake Mbuli (the famous protest poet) paid tribute to Mohlakeng and Ace, Randfontein’s and national soccer idol.
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