Sniper Ndoro looks ahead Tendai Ndoro
Tendai Ndoro

Tendai Ndoro

Grace Chingoma : Senior Sports Reporter

TENDAI NDORO wants to make up for lost time and is ready to grab the opportunity to become one of the regulars in Callisto Pasuwa’s squad ahead of next year’s African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon. The Orlando Pirates striker returned into the national team fold in the last Warriors game against Malawi when Zimbabwe qualified for the continental showpiece.He was not part of the journey which began with a road trip to Malawi last year.

However, outstanding performances towards the end of last season with Pirates saw the striker finally getting recognition from Pasuwa, some three years after his dance at the COSAFA Cup in Zambia.

This season Ndoro has continued to show good form and grabbed a hat-trick for Pirates in the South African Premiership season’s opener against Golden Arrows.

He has said he expects to flourish under the guidance of new coach Muhsin Ertugral.

Ndoro is part of the Nations Cup final qualifier side to face Guinea in Conakry this Sunday and with Nyasha Mushekwi unavailable, he could be thrust into the starting XI again.

“I thank God for the opportunity to showcase my talent at national team and club level. I will have to switch the focus from club level to the national team so that we can finish the group stages on a high note,” said Ndoro.

“But it is not really about me, it is about team work, supporting one another and everything will go well for us.”

Despite qualifying for the finals in Gabon with a game to spare, Ndoro said the Warriors were eager to do well in West Africa.

“We want to finish on a high note so that it boosts our confidence ahead of the next stage which is the AFCON finals,” said Ndoro.

“We don’t want to lose the match just because we have already qualified, so we are not going there to relax, but we are going to fight, focused like it is a decider for us and I am sure if we do that we will come out victorious.”

The rangy forward, however, has not set himself any standards in a season where a lot is expected from him.

“At club level, I want to help the club win trophies even though we lost one on Saturday, but there is still more to play for and we hope to continue winning and maybe get something,” said Ndoro.

“I don’t want to set targets for myself, as long as the team is winning it is okay for me and I am happy.”

The Warriors began training on Tuesday in the capital and are expected to leave tomorrow for Conakry where they will link up with the European-based quartet of Knowledge Musona, Costa Nhamoinesu, Marvelous Nakamba and Mathew Rusike.

The South Africa-based players and the home-based crew are going through their paces at Gateway High School.

Zimbabwe skipper Willard Katsande said the preparations for the Nations Cup finals have already begun.

“Obviously, we have two things in mind when we go into this game.

“We need to finish the campaign on a high by avoiding defeat, which would be historic for us,” said Katsande.

“Secondly, due to some circumstances which we faced during the campaign we need to use this game as a preparation for January because obviously we don’t have much time together as a team because it is not at club level whereby we train every day and play every week.”

The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder said they would also want to upset Guinea in their backyard after they came here and collected a point.

“When we look at the game we played here, we dominated the game for 90 minutes and it is unfortunate we conceded a soft goal.

“We would be playing away and they would be at home so we need to contain them and try to frustrate them.

“When playing at home, you have that pressure to make your fans happy and when the game goes longer without you scoring, obviously, the supporters start getting on your back at the same time giving the away team an opportunity to manoeuvre.

“So, I think, I am confident and also we would be playing without pressure, but at the same time I am confident we are going to come up with a victory,” said Katsande.

Katsande said any national team game was an important assignment.

“When it comes to this game, we are more than serious and we are approaching it with the respect it deserves,” said the skipper.

“We are approaching it with focus and also we need to respect our pride as Zimbabweans so we can’t just go there to waste resources and fulfil a fixture.

“We need to give our all, we need to see how far we have come as a group and also we need to try and play without pressure and see how best we can perform.”

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