Former Zimbabwe star found dead at his Johannesburg home

By Mark Ogagan

Former Orlando Pirates and Zimbabwe international striker, Tendai Ndoro has tragically passed away at the age of 40. He was found dead at his home in Johannesburg on Monday.

His former club Orlando Pirates confirmed the news with a heartbreaking statement, which read: ‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former striker Tendai Ndoro.

‘The club extend heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.’

Ndoro, who retired from football in 2020, made 14 appearances for Zimbabwe between 2013 and 2017, scoring five goals in total on the international stage.

He began his career at Nico United in Botswana before impressing at top flight Zimbabwean outfit Chicken Inn FC between 2011 and 2013.

His goal-scoring success domestically earned him both an international career and a move to South African giants Orlando Pirates in 2015, before stints at Al-Faisaly, Ajax Cape Town, Highlands Park and Al-Orouba towards the end of his career.

Ndoro, who was affectionately nicknamed Fire by fans and his team-mates for his scorching touch in front of goal, narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot in South Africa during the 2016-17 season.

The free-scoring campaign earned Ndoro a call-up for Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup on Nations squad, where the Warriors finished bottom in a tough group consisting of Senegal, Tunisia and Algeria.

Ndoro’s cause of death has not yet been confirmed, although it understood the footballer suffered from health problems.