After a fast start to the season, Tendai Ndoro has Pirates fans believing they can celebrate their 80th anniversary in style, writes Wade Pretorius in SoccerClub magazine.
Not since 2012 have Orlando Pirates celebrated league domination, when they were led to glory by legendary South African striker Benni McCarthy. Four long years have passed with no more silverware added to the cabinet and the club’s hierarchy desperate to mark their milestone of eight decades of football in 2017 with success.
The side has been renovated over the past two seasons, with Muhsin Ertugral now at the helm of a squad brimming with talent. Oupa Manyisa is back to full fitness after a lengthy injury layoff and has taken his place in the centre of Ertugral’s plans; but it is Zimbabwean striker Tendai Ndoro who has taken over McCarthy’s mantle as chief destroyerup front.
In a league with a lack of proven goal-scorers and seemingly no clear candidates set to break the mould, Ndoro has stepped up to take on the task.
A hat-trick on the opening day of league fixtures and a match-winning brace against Ajax Cape Town in matchweek two has ‘Fire7’, as he has been dubbed, well on his way to double figures in the race to the Golden Boot this term.
His power, pacey runs and killer instinct in front of goal have impressed observers around the country and his coach believes he has a world-beater in his ranks.
‘Tendai, for me, is a star player,’ says Ertugral of the 28-year-old forward.
‘You get these special characters and you have to treat these types of players differently. He has that spark in front
of goal.’
Ndoro’s form in 2016 has seen him find favour with his national team and alongside Khama Billiat, Matthew Rusike and Knowledge Musona, the sharp-shooting striker has Zimbabweans dreaming of Afcon glory when the tournament rolls around in January next year.
Like many, if not all PSL coaches, Ertugral would rather have Ndoro in his attack than trying to figure out a way in which to prevent him from scoring.
‘He has that sense of when to go, and when to stay, and when he gets into a one-on-one situation in front of goal, he’s deadly, and understands the lines of opponents very well.’
The Turkish coach has admitted that he now sets up his attack to place Ndoro in the best possible position. ‘We work on patterns in training according to his movements and how he’d like to receive the ball and he’s getting better and better with that; he’s very quick in executing that. When it comes to one on one, he always scores, and I’m very pleased to have a player like that.’
The Ghost are in expectant mood with anniversary celebrations centred on the assumption that silverware will be streaming into Orlando. With Ndoro in fine form and seemingly unfazed by the burden placed on him, it might not be long before the party gets started.
*Editor’s note: Since the time of writing, Ertugral resigned with Augusto Palacios coming in as a caretaker. Ndoro, however, has continued his fine form in front of goal and currently leads the scoring charts with 9 goals; four more than his nearest rival, Lebogang Manyama.
– This article first appeared in Issue 74 of SoccerClub magazine
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
