TUT eMalahleni campus took the opportunity to honour one of the football stalwarts in Mpumalanga and former Witbank Black Aces star, Thomas Ngobe with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ngobe who is the father of former Orlando Pirates star, Dumisa Ngobe was a legend at Black Aces during the 80s, and is also among other South African players like Jomo Sono and Patrick Ntsoeleng to play abroad during the apartheid era for Memphis in Austria in 1982.
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'Junior' as Ngobe was affectionately known during his playing days has since retired from all football activities due to health issues.
The event was attended by TUT eMalahleni Campus Rector, Molefe Maleka, TUT Sport and Recreation acting director, Elijah Ncube, SAFA vice-president, Linda Zwane, HOD Student Development and Support at eMalahleni campus, Elma Else and former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela.
TUT eMalahleni Campus Rector, Prof Molefe Maleka thanked Thomas Ngobe for accepting the award from his campus.
"As eMalahleni Campus we were humbled by Amazayoni's legend, Thomas Ngobe for accepting the Lifetime achievement award.
"It was a great honour for him to grace us with his presence," Maleka said.
"The Directorate of Sport and Recreation was humbled to see the eMalahleni campus Sport and Recreation honouring the legend of eMalahleni Thomas Ngobe who scored over 100 goals for Witbank Aces and was the NPSL top scorer in 1978 with 40 goals.
"This happened in a week, where the institution celebrated other South African icons David Tlale and Esther Mahlangu. We are happy to give them their flowers while they are still alive.
Meanwhile Thomas Ngobe's son, Sibusiso Ngobe thanked TUT eMalahleni for honouring his father who was still alive.
"I would like to thank TUT Sport and especially Fakude for the recognition of my hero, my father ubaba Thomas Junior Ngobe.
"People have forgotten about our heroes as my father played for Witbank Black Aces for his entire football career.
"The only time he was not playing for Aces was when he was overseas playing for Austria Memphis in 1980 till 1982.
"When he came back overseas, he had a lot of offers including from Wits University where they offered him a scholarship, but the community of Witbank said he was not going anywhere," said Ngobe.
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