Abednigo Ngcobo
- May 10, 1950
- November 1, 2014
- 64 years
- heart attack
About Abednigo Ngcobo
Abednigo Ngcobo, 64, South African footballer (Kaizer Chiefs), heart attack.
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Full Biography
|Abednigo Valdez "Shaka" Ngcobo (10 May 1950 – 1 November 2014) was a South African association football player who played in South Africa for Peñarol, Minnesota Kicks, Denver Dynamos and Kaizer Chiefs.
Club career
Ngcobo was born in Cato Manor near Durban, South Africa, and started played amateur soccer at a young age for African Bush Rangers, Rand Koreans, Union Jacks. He later joined Zulu Royals and African Wanderers in the new NPSL for blacks in 1971. In 1972, Ngcobo was recruited by Kaizer Chiefs' Ewert Nene when he scored six goals against them in a friendly match. In 1974, he won the league and the BP Top 8 and in the same season he scored a hat trick in a 7–1 win over Moroka Swallows. He left for Denver Dynamos in 1975 after leading Chiefs to their first ever league title the previous season with Kaizer Motaung and Patrick Ntsoelengoe. Motaung scored seven goals that season, providing one assist, Ntsoelengoe scored five goals and four assists and Ngcobo netted five times, while delivering six assists. The following season, Ngcobo and Ntsoelengoe both moved to Minnesota Kicks. In 1976 where he won the Benson and Hedges Trophy, Sales House Cup and the BP Top 8 he set a new record of the fastest goal scored in 10 seconds in a 3–1 win over Moroka Swallows on 11 October 1976 in Vosloorus. In February 1980, before being named the 1979 Footballer of Year, he scored against Highlands Park in that famous Mainstay Cup Final replay and he scored a 13-minute hat-trick against Moroka Swallows. He went AWOL for trials in Uruguay with Peñarol organised by Mario Tuani along with Goodenough Nkomo upon returning he was fined R1000. He later played for Peñarol being striker partners with young Venancio Ramos and Fernando Morena. After suffering from niggling knee injuries later in his career, Valdez retired in December 1984.
International career
Ngcobo played for the SA Black XI in 1973 in a match against a team billed as the UK All Stars. He played in a second match against another All Stars side in 1979, at the Rand Stadium.
Style of play
Former Marabastad Sundowns player and older brother of Zane Moosa, Essop "Smiley" Moosa said " 'Shaka' had great speed and he was unbelievably strong. He could play both as a striker and as a winger, the last position being his best, I felt. He was also a fantastic goalscorer, he had a very educated left-foot, but he could score with both feet." Former Chiefs captain between 1975 and 1986, Ryder Mofokeng said "he could dribble past defenders, he could pass, he could cross and he could shoot. He was one of the best all-round strikers South Africa had."
After retirement
Ngcobo ran a taxi business in Alexandra and lived with his wife Khanyisile and his daughter.
Death
He died of a heart attack at his home on 1 November 2014, after complaining of chest pains early that morning and died a few hours later.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abednigo_Ngcobo
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Abednigo Ngcobo's archived record and the sources above.
1.According to Essop 'Smiley' Moosa, what was Abednigo Ngcobo's best position on the field?
- A.Defender
- B.Striker
- C.Wingercorrect
- D.Midfielder
Essop 'Smiley' Moosa noted that while Abednigo Ngcobo could play as a striker or winger, he felt the wing was his best position.
Source: style of play section
2.What fine did Abednigo Ngcobo receive for going AWOL to trial with Peñarol?
- A.R1000correct
- B.R2000
- C.R500
- D.R5000
Upon returning from his unsanctioned trials in Uruguay, Abednigo Ngcobo was fined R1000.
Source: club career section
3.In the 1974 season, how many goals did Abednigo Ngcobo net while helping Kaizer Chiefs win the league title?
- A.Fivecorrect
- B.Six
- C.Seven
- D.Four
During the 1974 season, Abednigo Ngcobo netted five goals and delivered six assists for Kaizer Chiefs.
Source: club career section
4.Which international opponents did the SA Black XI face in 1973 while Abednigo Ngcobo was playing for them?
- A.Highlands Park
- B.Denver Dynamos Select
- C.UK All Starscorrect
- D.Uruguay National Team
Abednigo Ngcobo played for the SA Black XI in a 1973 match against the UK All Stars.
Source: international career section
5.Who were Abednigo Ngcobo's striker partners while playing for Peñarol?
- A.Ryder Mofokeng and Essop Moosa
- B.Mario Tuani and Kaizer Motaung
- C.Venancio Ramos and Fernando Morenacorrect
- D.Goodenough Nkomo and Patrick Ntsoelengoe
While playing for Peñarol, Abednigo Ngcobo served as a striker partner to Venancio Ramos and Fernando Morena.
Source: club career section
6.What year did Abednigo Ngcobo officially retire from professional football?
- A.1984correct
- B.1980
- C.1979
- D.1986
Abednigo Ngcobo retired from professional football in December 1984 due to recurring knee injuries.
Source: club career section
7.Which award was Abednigo Ngcobo named for in 1979?
- A.Mainstay Cup Player of the Match
- B.Top Goalscorer of the NPSL
- C.Footballer of the Yearcorrect
- D.Benson and Hedges Trophy
Abednigo Ngcobo was named the 1979 Footballer of the Year.
Source: club career section
8.What was the date of birth for Abednigo Ngcobo?
- A.10 June 1950
- B.1 November 2014
- C.11 May 1951
- D.10 May 1950correct
The biography states that Abednigo Ngcobo was born on 10 May 1950.
Source: biography introduction
9.In which city was Abednigo Ngcobo born?
- A.Johannesburg
- B.Vosloorus
- C.Cato Manorcorrect
- D.Alexandra
Abednigo Ngcobo was born in Cato Manor near Durban, South Africa.
Source: club career section
10.Which professional club recruited Abednigo Ngcobo in 1972?
- A.Denver Dynamos
- B.Highlands Park
- C.Kaizer Chiefscorrect
- D.Moroka Swallows
In 1972, Ewert Nene recruited Abednigo Ngcobo for Kaizer Chiefs after he scored six goals against them.
Source: club career section
11.What business did Abednigo Ngcobo run after retiring from professional football?
- A.A restaurant
- B.A sports academy
- C.A taxi businesscorrect
- D.A clothing store
Following his retirement, Abednigo Ngcobo ran a taxi business in Alexandra.
Source: after retirement section
12.What was the cause of Abednigo Ngcobo's death in 2014?
- A.A car accident
- B.A long illness
- C.A stroke
- D.A heart attackcorrect
Abednigo Ngcobo passed away on 1 November 2014 after suffering from a heart attack at his home.
Source: death section
13.Which teams did Abednigo Ngcobo play for at an amateur level during his youth?
- A.Highlands Park, Marabastad Sundowns, and Rand Stadium
- B.Denver Dynamos, Minnesota Kicks, and Kaizer Chiefs
- C.African Bush Rangers, Rand Koreans, and Union Jackscorrect
- D.Zulu Royals, African Wanderers, and Peñarol
Abednigo Ngcobo started his amateur soccer career playing for African Bush Rangers, Rand Koreans, and Union Jacks.
Source: club career section
14.In what year did Abednigo Ngcobo join Zulu Royals and African Wanderers?
- A.1972
- B.1971correct
- C.1969
- D.1974
Abednigo Ngcobo joined Zulu Royals and African Wanderers in 1971.
Source: club career section
15.What feat did Abednigo Ngcobo achieve on 11 October 1976 against Moroka Swallows?
- A.He scored a 13-minute hat-trick
- B.He scored six goals in one game
- C.He scored the fastest goal in 10 secondscorrect
- D.He scored a winning goal in the final minute
Abednigo Ngcobo set a record for the fastest goal scored in 10 seconds during a match against Moroka Swallows on 11 October 1976.
Source: club career section
16.Which player accompanied Abednigo Ngcobo to Uruguay for trials with Peñarol?
- A.Goodenough Nkomocorrect
- B.Kaizer Motaung
- C.Ryder Mofokeng
- D.Patrick Ntsoelengoe
Abednigo Ngcobo went to Uruguay for trials with Peñarol alongside Goodenough Nkomo.
Source: club career section
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