Richard Ngubane was born in 1948 in Greytown and moved to Kwa-Mashu, Durban. He made a conscious decision to play football at an early age as a way to escape poverty. He played amateur for Young Dribblers FC of Kwa-Mashu but was recruited by Amazulu FC when they joined the professional ranks in 1971.
He played in the South African Games in 1973 for the Black IX, which played against Indians, Whites and Coloureds during apartheid days. In 1979, he obtained a South African Football Association Basic Football Coaching certificate. In 1982, he coached and managed Amazulu FC for one season. In 2005 he obtained level 1 football coaching certificate.
Presently, he is negotiating with local government to facilitate the development of football in schools through the “Schools’ League” programme.