The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa says he has always been a big fan of Orlando Pirates striker Tendai “Fire 7” Ndoro – despite him continuously overlooking the former Chicken Inn man for the national soccer side.
Ndoro was last week named in Pasuwa’s 27-man squad and is expected in camp this evening for the all-important Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Malawi at the National Sports next Sunday.
The national team coach has had brickbats thrown his way for overlooking the 27-year-old Ndoro for, among other forwards, veteran Cuthbert Malajila, who has been pushed to the periphery by Colombian Leonardo Castro at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Ndoro was a Warriors regular in 2013 and 2014 under Ian Gorowa, with Pasuwa as the first assistant coach, but his fortunes took a downturn when he swapped Mpumalanga Black Aces for Pirates in 2015 where he struggled to break into Eric Tinkler’s team.
Ndoro, however, took advantage of the departure of the Sea Robbers’ top gunslinger, Kermit Erasmus for French Ligue 1 side Rennes, to break into the starting line-up and has been enjoying an impressive scoring run.
Ten league and cup goals in eight starts between February and April were too good a return for Pasuwa to ignore.
Ndoro marks his return since the Warriors were held 2-all at the National Sports by the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on June 1, 2014.
“He is one player I have always had faith in,” said Pasuwa. “I have never doubted his ability but the only problem is that he was not playing for his club ever since he joined from Mpumalanga.
“But once he started playing and scoring as expected, I didn’t hesitate to call him up. You must also know that I was part of the technical team when he used to make the team regularly. So there is nothing like I am not a fan of his football. He will certainly give us more options in attack and will increase competition.”
Ndoro comes in as direct competition to China-based Nyasha Mushekwi for the coveted central striking role.
While the former Caps United man is revered for his hustling and power play, which tend to win him space against defenders, Ndoro comes in with lightning speed and precision which can be a source of bother for the Malawians.
Newly-crowned Maritzburg United player of the season Evans Rusike is another option Pasuwa can use for the tip of the Warriors attack, and the fact that he found the back of the net in the 4-0 destruction of Swaziland will aid his case for at least a place on the bench against Malawi.
With Belgium-based talisman Knowledge Musona at home playing off the main striker, the same as Malajila, the competition for leading the Warriors attack is a three-horse race between Ndoro, Mushekwi and Rusike.
