A South African midfielder who was one of the leading stars of the North American Soccer League.
Ntsoelengoe played 11 seasons in the NASL, from 1973 to 1984 (missing only 1974) and was among the league’s all-time leaders in both appearances and goals. He played in 271 NASL games, the fourth-highest total, and scored 94 NASL goals, the seventh best. He was named a first-time NASL all-star in 1979 and 1982.
Most of Ntsoelengoe’s NASL career was spent with the Minnesota Kicks, for whom he played six seasons, and the Toronto Blizzard, for whom he played three. Although he was consistently with good teams, making the playoffs in nine consecutive years, he never won an NASL championship. He was on the losing side in the NASL finals three times, for Minnesota in 1976 and for Toronto in 1983 and 1984.
Because South Africa was banned from international soccer during Ntsoelengoe’s career, he never had a chance to play for his national team. However, he continued during his NASL years to play for Kaiser Chiefs in South Africa during the NASL off-season.
Inducted in 2003.
