22 April 08

By Sipho None

THE Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe Schools Sports Programme is expected to break new ground in developing sport in Mogale City. The international soccer legend, one of Mogale’s most treasured residents, died in May 2006.

The programme, the brainchild of Mogale City Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane, is expected to result in more than 80 schools locking horns on the soccer field and netball court. It is geared towards making a significant contribution to the development of sport in schools and the broader community.

A partnership between Mogale City, the Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe Foundation (PANF), the West Rand District education department, the South African Schools Football Association, the South African Football Association West Rand and the SASNA, it was launched recently at the Teaspoon and Tankard Guesthouse in Muldersdrift, recently. More than 300 sports enthusiasts greeted the ambitious programme

Speaking at the launch, Seerane said that Ace had played a crucial role both in sports and the liberation struggle. His role and that of others should be acknowledged and recounted.

“We are gathering this evening to pay tribute to an international icon and a son of the West Rand,” Seerane said. “The contribution that Ace and many others like him made to the struggle for freedom in our beautiful land must still be research, documented and narrated.

“When our people fought for freedom, Ace, with immense talent, was able to soothe his pain. As Mogale City we think that it is our obligation to recognise his contribution. This forms the basis on which we conceived this schools sport programme. Mabhekaphansi, he may be gone but he will never be forgotten.”

West Rand District Municipality Executive Mayor Faith Matshikiza also spoke at the occasion. “The West Rand District Municipality and the sister municipalities are not working in silos and the tournament will take place in all the municipalities starting from next year,” she said.

“Our focus this year will be only in Mogale City [but] these tournaments are going to benefit our future champions in all the municipalities across the region.”

Thato Ntsoelengoe, the sportsman’s widow, said that this year the programme would focus on soccer and netball; in years to come it would include other sports

“One of the objectives of this tournament is to keep Ace’s legacy and memory alive. The programme will include other sport codes as the tournament develops and progresses over the years.

“This will be done in such a way that soccer becomes the focal and central sport guiding the whole tournament. All the partners in this programme are looking forward to seeing the tournament growing to national level,” Ntsoelengoe said. She is the founder and director of the PANF.

“I would like to thank our partners, particularly Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane, for believing in my dreams and being there for me when the chips were down,” she added.

Sharing her sentiments were the district education director, Lize Froneman, and the SASNA’S chairperson, Di Woolley, who said the schools sports programme was set to put Mogale City on the map.

“We are privileged to be involved with such acclaimed partners. Within the realms of this partnership, Ace Ntsoelengoe, who was a soccer legend, is also honoured. This partnership provides us with an opportunity to use sport as a vehicle for the holistic development of our learners,” Froneman said.

Legends from yesteryear, such as Joseph “Banks” Setlhodi, Meshack “Executive” Mjangqeka, Doctor Khumalo and Johannes “Ryder” Mofokeng, attended the launch.

The tournament will be played in a league format, with the finals on 19 July. Prizes include bursaries for learners, and laptop and desktop computers for their schools.