CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League top goal scorer Tendai Ndoro waves goodbye to domestic football today when he leaves for South Africa for a new life at Premiership side Mpumalanga Black Aces.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Zimbabwean star was loaned back to Chicken Inn by the South African club as he could not play for them because his papers for his international transfer clearance failed to beat the September 2 deadline for the transfer window in South Africa.
Ndoro, who won the 2013 Golden Boot Award after scoring an incredible 18 league goals — matching Shabanie Mine’s Nelson Mazivisa who lifted the award last season — leaves us memories of his goal-scoring prowess.
He was a typical goal poacher type of striker whose goals are reminiscent of Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
In 2011, Rodreck Mutuma, now at South African Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic, lifted the top goal scorer award after finishing the season with just 14 goals.
But the fact that Ndoro at one point left for South Africa after agreeing terms with Mpumalanga Black Aces where he spent almost two months and returned home but still won the top goal scorer award is probably a graphic illustration of how Zimbabwe, which used to be a conveyor belt of strikers of repute, has fallen.
The Chicken Inn striker, who was also selected among the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year, told NewsDay Sport yesterday he would leave for South Africa today to sort out his future with his new club, but would return in time for the awards ceremony set for December 13.
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Ndoro said he was happy to win the top goal scorer award and gave credit to his team mates at Chicken Inn.
“I had a very good season. I had set this target for myself. It needs a lot of hard work and I credit it to my team mates and all those who supported me,” said Ndoro.
“I should be leaving for South Africa tomorrow (today) and hope to transfer this form to my new club. I am going to sort out my future with the club since my loan deal here has expired. We need to discuss a number of things pertaining to my contract, but I will be coming back to attend the Soccer Stars awards ceremony,” said Ndoro, who has also transformed his club form to the national team which has seen him become a vital cog in Ian Gorowa’s Warriors set-up.
He was part of the Warriors team that qualified for the 2014 African Nations Championships (Chan), but will unfortunately miss the tournament as it is reserved for players plying their trade in domestic leagues.
However, he should be available for the Warriors’ 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that start in March.
At Aces, he will don jersey number 37. He will join fellow Zimbabwean internationals Method Mwanjali and goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro. Murambadoro will have to secure a residence permit.
