Sports / Soccer
Orlando Pirates striker salutes Leicester-like Chicken Inn
23 Apr 2016 at 12:50hrs | Views
TENDAI NDORO says Chicken Inn are the Leicester City of Zimbabwe football and he has backed his compatriot Khama Billiat to be crowned the best player in the South African Premiership this season.
The Orlando Pirates striker says the Gamecocks were unlucky to be eliminated from the CAF Champions League by Mamelodi Sundowns this year after the Brazilians got what he believed was a "soft penalty."
Ndoro's good form has not gone unnoticed with the Zimbabwe international being touted as one of the men to watch at this year's COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia.
The COSAFA Castle Cup will run in Windhoek from June 11-25 and four-time champions Zimbabwe have been rated among the favourites.
As the build-up to the tournament began, COSAFA this week reckoned that Ndoro, who has hit a purple patch to lead Pirates' revival in the ABSA Premiership, could be among the top players to watch.
Ndoro's form, which has seen him score almost every week for Pirates, is also understood to he have drawn keen interest from coach Callisto Pasuwa who is monitoring his progress ahead of the next Warriors camp.
But it is Ndoro's recognition by COSAFA on their website this week that puts into perspective the strides he has made.
"Zimbabwe is packed with talented forwards, but one who has come into his own in recent months is Tendai Ndoro.
"The striker has netted eight goals in his last six starts for South Africa Premiership side Orlando Pirates and is arguably in the form of his life.
"He faces stiff opposition to get into the Zimbabwe line-up, but if selected will be confident of continuity to bang in the goals," wrote COSAFA.
According to the website, Ndoro has been rated among the top ten players to watch at COSAFA from the 14 nations.
Ndoro, was on cover page of the latest biggest soccer magazine in South Africa, Kick Off.
"I didn't play because when I joined the club from Black Aces, the coaches had already decided on a combination up front. It was difficult for any player that joined to break into the team because the squad had already gelled. But I worked hard and waited for my chance.
"I set myself a target to get into the starting line-up and a second target was to help the club win trophies. Unfortunately results didn't go our way, but I am thankful for the opportunity to play for this club. The coaches are good to me and are always there to explain how they want things to get done."
And Ndoro revealed his parents didn't want him and his identical twin Takudzwa, who is a goalkeeper in Botswana, to pursue sport.
"Growing up, my father didn't want us to play football. He wanted us to study all the time and he used to give us a hiding.
"But when you want something in life it will take more than a hiding to stop you. We were good at school, but not that great and we used the talent we had in football.
"We had passion — we used to go to bed without eating because we used to get into trouble for neglecting books. But now our father is very proud and he is always wearing the jerseys with pride. When he goes to the shops, he is a proud man," he said.
The Buccaneers striker describes Chicken Inn as the Leicester City of Zimbabwean football.
"Chicken Inn is a good club, but not much is expected of them. It's the Leicester City of Zimbabwean football and we played there with no pressure and that is why enjoyed myself. I watched them against Sundowns who got a soft penalty, but what can you do?
"I was proud of them," he said.
Ndoro also believes Khama Billiat is the Player of the Season in the ABSA Premiership.
"If this season could end today, I would give the Player of the Season award to Khama Billiat because this is his season.
"At Sundowns he is well protected; he is their Cristiano Ronaldo. They don't want him to get injured and they will do everything for Khama to be happy.
"At Barcelona other players work hard for Messi and Sundowns players work hard for Khama.
"They put all the trust in him and you can see that he doesn't want to disappoint and always puts in good performance," said Ndoro.
The Orlando Pirates striker says the Gamecocks were unlucky to be eliminated from the CAF Champions League by Mamelodi Sundowns this year after the Brazilians got what he believed was a "soft penalty."
Ndoro's good form has not gone unnoticed with the Zimbabwe international being touted as one of the men to watch at this year's COSAFA Castle Cup in Namibia.
The COSAFA Castle Cup will run in Windhoek from June 11-25 and four-time champions Zimbabwe have been rated among the favourites.
As the build-up to the tournament began, COSAFA this week reckoned that Ndoro, who has hit a purple patch to lead Pirates' revival in the ABSA Premiership, could be among the top players to watch.
Ndoro's form, which has seen him score almost every week for Pirates, is also understood to he have drawn keen interest from coach Callisto Pasuwa who is monitoring his progress ahead of the next Warriors camp.
But it is Ndoro's recognition by COSAFA on their website this week that puts into perspective the strides he has made.
"Zimbabwe is packed with talented forwards, but one who has come into his own in recent months is Tendai Ndoro.
"The striker has netted eight goals in his last six starts for South Africa Premiership side Orlando Pirates and is arguably in the form of his life.
"He faces stiff opposition to get into the Zimbabwe line-up, but if selected will be confident of continuity to bang in the goals," wrote COSAFA.
According to the website, Ndoro has been rated among the top ten players to watch at COSAFA from the 14 nations.
Ndoro, was on cover page of the latest biggest soccer magazine in South Africa, Kick Off.
"I didn't play because when I joined the club from Black Aces, the coaches had already decided on a combination up front. It was difficult for any player that joined to break into the team because the squad had already gelled. But I worked hard and waited for my chance.
And Ndoro revealed his parents didn't want him and his identical twin Takudzwa, who is a goalkeeper in Botswana, to pursue sport.
"Growing up, my father didn't want us to play football. He wanted us to study all the time and he used to give us a hiding.
"But when you want something in life it will take more than a hiding to stop you. We were good at school, but not that great and we used the talent we had in football.
"We had passion — we used to go to bed without eating because we used to get into trouble for neglecting books. But now our father is very proud and he is always wearing the jerseys with pride. When he goes to the shops, he is a proud man," he said.
The Buccaneers striker describes Chicken Inn as the Leicester City of Zimbabwean football.
"Chicken Inn is a good club, but not much is expected of them. It's the Leicester City of Zimbabwean football and we played there with no pressure and that is why enjoyed myself. I watched them against Sundowns who got a soft penalty, but what can you do?
"I was proud of them," he said.
Ndoro also believes Khama Billiat is the Player of the Season in the ABSA Premiership.
"If this season could end today, I would give the Player of the Season award to Khama Billiat because this is his season.
"At Sundowns he is well protected; he is their Cristiano Ronaldo. They don't want him to get injured and they will do everything for Khama to be happy.
"At Barcelona other players work hard for Messi and Sundowns players work hard for Khama.
"They put all the trust in him and you can see that he doesn't want to disappoint and always puts in good performance," said Ndoro.
Source - KickOff
