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Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
ORLANDO Pirates coach Muhsin Ertugral revealed that he set Zimbabwe international striker Tendai Ndoro a target of scoring 20 goals in the 2016/17 Absa Premiership league in South Africa before their season opener against Golden Arrows where the Nketa 8-bred forward grabbed a hattrick.
So far, the Zimbabwe international has responded well to the challenge, scoring a quick brace on Tuesday night when Pirates edged Ajax Cape Town 2-1 in their own backyard. As a result he now needs a further 15 goals from the 27 remaining league matches, which would undoubtedly put him in the driver’s seat for the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot considering the last player to hit the 20-goal mark was Siyabonga Nomvete for Moroka Swallows in the 2010/11 season.
Ndoro, better known as Fire, is on top form and in the 19 competitive games — as from last Tuesday night — that he has so far played in Buccaneers colours, the former Chicken Inn and Railstars utility player made a total of 66 shots, 24 on target. This translates to 37 percent of shots on target.
Last Tuesday’s brace took his total Pirates goal tally to 13. Ten of the goals came from inside the box and the remainder from outside 18 yard. He has scored twice through well taken headers. The player, who once had a playing stint in Botswana, is one of the rare football breeds.
He uses both his feet, a feat that has seen him having three shoots from his right foot and the same number from his left foot.
The calculator suggests 85% of Ndoro’s goals have come from his feet and coach Ertugral says: “He has such great quality.”
And, Ndoro a, Zimbabwe’s 2013 Top Goal Scorer reckons: “We are lucky to have such a great coach. But it doesn’t mean I have to relax. He pushes me to excel.” Ndoro’s rich vein of form also started in January when he was finally given a chance after spending the first half of the season side-lined. But his goals are like floods, they come down in bucket-loads and then dry up. If he becomes more consistent then the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot will be his.
“Dry spells are normal for any striker but because of the support from my teammates and the trust the technical team gives me, I’ll be able to get over it,” he says.
Ndoro is allowed to float all over the place, with his runs carefully monitored so that he has the simple job of just putting the ball at the back of the net from inviting passes. Twitter: @FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter