Andile Ncobo

Ace Ncobo (born in Nqadu Village, Willowvale, Eastern Cape) is a former South African football (soccer) referee. He was a school principal (Dumalisile Comprehensive High School, Butterworth High School)and university lecturer with a number of degrees to his name. He resigned from education in 2007 when he took up a position as general manager for the Premier Soccer League. He is credited with introducing a number of innovations to the management of professional football in South Africa.

Ncobo was formerly a FIFA referee, and is known to have officiated in FIFA matches during the period from 2000^[1] to 2007. He served as a referee in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.^[2] Prior to this NCOBO had been a keen footballer who formed his own club in 1980, at the age of just 13. He has served in the leadership structures of football development under the then Safa Transkei and later Safa Amathole. At the time he left these positions to take up professional refereeing he was the Chairperson of the Local Football Association in Mbhashe. Upon relinquishing that position as he felt he could not be a referee and still lead clubs, he was granted Lifetime Honorary Membership by the Mbhashe LFA.

He worked for almost two decades as a well-known educationist in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape. Known as a down-to-earth person who loves his people, his Ace Ncobo Charity Institute carries out a lot of community development initiatives, especially amongst young people. The Charity Institute which he funds from his various businesses spends millions each year on rural and township development projects.

Although quite famous himself, one of his companies, Mzantsi Stars (Pty) Ltd, manages a number of top names in the creative industry and sports. He has built a reputation as a shrewd brand strategist, PR and Marketing guru.

As Group CEO of Hotline Media Group he oversees and monitors the work of the different CEO's who manage the various divisions in the group of companies. The group has interests in media, social media marketing, digital advertising platforms, systems architecture, brand development and events management.

He also owns a growing property development company that has doubled its portfolio in the past five years.

Known as Mr Spot On in his role as a Specialist Football Analyst, the ExtraTime football magazine programme on Supersport TV is beamed live every Monday to an international audience of over 150 million viewers.

He is a well-known staunch member and supporter of the African National Congress and holds the position of Branch Secretary. He is renowned for being a vibrant community development activist.

In September 2017 he launched his first published book to much fanfare with a panel debate on the topic of leadership. The book, titled The Ten Principles of Philanthropic Leadership, has invoked a lot of debate about the kind of leadership needed to ensure that the needs of the poor are prioritized.

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