Ndoro: The most wanted Buccaneer Tendai Ndoro
Tendai Ndoro

Tendai Ndoro

ZIMBABWE international forward Tendai Ndoro’s growing popularity among the Orlando Pirates’ fans has been confirmed after he topped the votes for the Buccaneers’ team that will face bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the pre-season Carling Black Label Champion Cup showdown at the FNB Stadium tomorrow.

The 28-year-old hitman was one of Pirates’ shining lights in a season of disappointment that saw the Buccaneers finish seventh on the ABSA Premiership log standings.

Ndoro scored 10 goals in all competitions for Pirates and says he is already looking forward to the 2016 /17 season.

“We are ready. Everyone is shaping up. We are excited that we are getting closer to the games so we are ready,” Ndoro told KickOff.

“Normally I don’t like to set myself targets, all I want is for the team, success of the team.”

He said he was looking forward to a potential partnership with fellow striker Thamsanqa Gabuza on the field.

“In football as players we don’t have to choose whom must I play with, but if the coach wants a certain combination, it’s up to us, me and Gabuza, to combine. We have so many things to talk about with Gabuza so we have to work together, there are no choices,” he said.

“It’s a big game. If you join Orlando Pirates, you would rather lose any other game, but not against Kaizer Chiefs.

“Whether it’s a friendly or not, a Kaizer Chiefs game is the game of the year.”

His countryman, Kaizer Chiefs midfield strongman, Willard Katsande is not mincing his words about their intentions for the new season stating that the league title is the priority following the misfortune of their trophyless campaign.

Following reshuffling of the squad Katsande makes it known that they will approach the 2016 /17 season with a different mind-set as they seek to win cups and ultimately clinch the biggest trophy offered in domestic football — the league title, which he insists is the priority.

“Every season our aim is to win the big prize which is the league and also to win cups, but the main priority is that we need to win the league,” declares the Zimbabwean.

“Obviously you know it is not a good thing for a team like Chiefs to finish the season without any trophy and we all know the history of the club. And obviously we will approach this season with a different mind-set whereby we need to do something for the supporters and even for ourselves.”

The tournament might only be a pre-season contest with players voted in fans by fans, but the fact that Orlando Pirates is the opponent for Chiefs makes it carry more weight than any other fixture as up to 90 000 fans are expected at the FNB Stadium.

“When you are going to play a game like a derby it is worth more than just being a pre-season game, it is more than that because there is history between the two teams.

“Obviously we need to approach the game with a positive mind and with a positive attitude whereby we need to execute what we were doing during the pre-season and also pick up mistakes where we need to polish up our game.

“We are going to expect them (Pirates) to fly because they brought in a quality coach (Muhsin Ertugral) on board. So obviously we are expecting a tough game, like I said even with us we have brought in a couple of new guys so we need to see how far we are in terms of our pre-season and try to be more competitive,” said Katsande.

He expects his homeboys Mitchell Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare to succeed at the club.

“Obviously when the management made the decision to bring them on board it means they value them and without any doubt they will bring quality to the team and add value.

“Obviously they will bring a different dimension and obviously they are hard workers, as you know the guys from Zim they always work hard. I am tipping them to succeed here,” said Katsande.

During the first half and the first five minutes of the second half, substitutions by the team coaches may only be made due to injury or illness. No tactical substitutions may be made.

Five minutes into the second half, the team coach will receive a black envelope with the name and number of the player to go onto the field as a substitute.

The team coach will decide who comes off for the supporters’ substitution.

Both teams’ substitutions will be made simultaneously, first Orlando Pirates and then Kaizer Chiefs.

Each club is entitled to make a total of seven substitutions, six outfield players and one goalkeeper.

Teams

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Moleko, Mathoho, Gordinho, Masilela, Katsande, Maluleka, Ekstein, Lebese, Twala Parker

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo, Jele, Gcaba, Gyimah, Matlaba, Sarr, Manyisa, Makola, Rakhale, Gabuza, Ndoro

Cup History

2015: Chiefs 1 Pirates 1

(Pirates win 4-3 on penalties)

2014: Chiefs 0 Pirates 0

(Pirates win 6-5 on penalties)

2013: Chiefs 1 Pirates 0

2012: Pirates 1 Chiefs 1

(Pirates win 5-4 on penalties)

2011: Pirates 0 Chiefs 0

(Pirates win 4-3 on penalties) — KickOff.

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