Ace's Chiefs dream team

They may drive fancy, fast cars, but as far as Pule "Ace" Ntsoelengoe is concerned, the current crop of Kaizer Chiefs players are miles behind the unsung heroes of the late Seventies and early Eighties.

Ntsoelengoe, arguably the best player to don the famous gold and black jersey, has selected his Amakhosi "dream team". And, surprise, surprise, none of Muhsin Ertugral's charges made it into Ntsoelengoe's starting eleven.

Doctor Khumalo and young defender-cum-midfielder Nhlanhla Kubheka were good enough for the bench, but stars such as Jabu Pule and Brian Baloyi did not even get a mention.

"Nhlanhla reminds me a lot of Lucas Radebe. He is a very dedicated youngster who is willing to learn. He is a good centre half who is very mobile. He'll grow up to be the country's best centre half," said Ntsoelengoe.

Radebe made the starting line-up ahead of former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey, who was just beaten to the subs bench by Sylvester Kole.

There was also no room for striking duo Fani Madida and Shane MacGregor, who tormented opposition defenders in the mid-80s. Ditto for KwaZulu/Natalian strikers Samora Khulu and Siyabonga Nomvete, who excelled for the Amakhosi.

Ntsoelengoe - who starred for the Amakhosi when the club was formed through to the mid-1980s - went for a 4-4-2 formation. "We would have the numbers when we defend and, similarly, when we attack because the left and right midfielders would go up and down the pitch," he said.

It was not an easy task as Ntsoelengoe would give a name only to change his mind during the interview.

Club boss Kaizer Motaung narrowly lost out to Teenage Dladla, while Joseph Sethlodi was unchallenged in goal.

While many South Africans regard Doctor Khumalo as the best playmaker ever, Ntsoelengoe believes Johnny Mokoena was the Amakhosi's equivalent of Pele, Maradona or Zidane. "He was a very special player," Ace said.

Ntsoelengoe's strike force of Leonard Likoebe and Abednigo Ncgobo is likely to raise eyebrows, but the maestro is adamant they are the best for the job.

"I'll launch my own Operation Teka Hinkwaso with this team. And the operation will be successful, without any hiccups. No team will cope with us," Ntsoelengoe said.

This is Ntsoelengoe's side, with his comments on each player:

Goalkeeper

Joseph Sethlodi: No contest, "Banks" is definitely the man. He was a total goalkeeper. His anticipation was great, he was brilliant at positional play, he communicated very well and his reading of the game was unmatched.

Right back

Johannes Mofokeng: I have yet to see another player as consistent as "Ryder". He was the kind of defender you always knew would play his heart out in every match. He hardly ever lost one-on-one duels and his ball distribution was good too.

Central Defenders

Petros Ndzimande: He was so big, opposition strikers viewed him as a brick wall. Few managed to get past him. If you wanted a man-marker of high quality, then he was your man. He could close down even the most feared striker without using dirty tricks.

Lucas Radebe: I spotted him when Kaizer sent me to watch another player at ICL Birds in the Bopsol League. When I brought Lucas instead of the player they wanted, Kaizer was furious but I told him to give the boy a chance.

Left Back

Gerald Dlamini: No one has ever played this position like him. He was an unbelievably skilful defender. He always gave us the advantage of an extra man because he was forever going on the attack. And he was seldom caught off-position when we were on the defensive.

Right Midfield

Herman Blaschke: He's perhaps the best player to come out of Namibia. A player with all-round ability, he was quick as lightning going forward and could deliver a good cross even at high speed. When he had to play defensively, he also excelled.

Left Midfield

Nelson Dladla: He was the star of the team when I was away in the States. "Teenage" was Chiefs. He carried the team. People would flock to the stadium just to see him. He was arguably one of the most skilful players to don the gold and black strip.

Midfield Destroyer

Ariel Kgongoane: He'd be my captain because he was a born leader. Pro was a workaholic who would break a leg to help the team win. He read the game excellently and few came close to him in the tackling stakes.

Midfield playmaker

Johnny Mokoena: Every team has a special player ... that individual who inspires the rest. The kind of player who can turn the game around with a single pass or a burst through the opposition. Brazil had Pele, Argentina had Maradona, France had Platini and now Zidane, we had "Magwegwe".

Forwards

Leonard Likoebe: All my playing career I do not remember him ever being offside. Defenders just could not find a way of rendering him ineffective. He was a great striker, pacy, skilful and boy, could he bang that ball.

Abednigo Ngcobo: There's very little difference between him and "Wagga Wagga" Likoebe. Shaka was a strong striker who was not afraid to take on defenders. He was very difficult to shake off the ball. And he was one of their deadliest finishers.

Reserves

Goalkeeper: Peta Bala'c. Defenders: Sylvester Kole and Nhlanhla Kubheka. Midfielders: Zero Johnson and Doctor Khumalo. Forwards: Sugar Mguyo and Trevor Mthimkulu.