Don't miss my Neal and Pray column in The New Age.... every Tuesday!

Sunday, 24 April 2016

SIMPLY NDORABLE: the astonishing rise of Orlando Pirates and their goal-happy TENdai!

TEN FOR TENDAI: Ndoro is in a rich run of form
SIMPLY NDORABLE. The fairytale of Tinkler Ball. An Orlando Pirates revival that has become too impressive to ignore. And too bizarre to leave unexplored.

In truth, WWWWDWWWW since February 21 should never have happened. Coach Eric Tinkler was widely touted for the axe after the CAF Confederations final defeat at the start of December, but his chairman Irvin Khoza just never got around to chopping off his coach's head.

The man popularly known as #Tinklerout remained in charge confiding in me “what will be, will be, that’s football” as he struggled from game to game before Christmas. At one point the mighty Buccaneers, double treble winners just four years ago, looked a hopeless case in 13th position, just above the top three. Unthinkable for a side NEVER relegated. 

The Sea Robbers, as their nickname suggested, were all at sea complete with leaking ship and powderless cannons.

It got worse. Kermit Erasmus went overboard without warning, and left for France, Thamsanqa Gabuza walked the plank, disappearing from the squad with apparent burn-out. Tinkler, scrambling for a life jacket in an ocean of despair, turned to a 27-year-old from Luwewe in Zimbabwe called Tendai Ndoro. It was sink or swim.

A Chicken Inn product, Ndoro was impressive at Aces, where he scored 14 goals in 41 games, before the big move to Soweto. But despite what looked to me to be a sharp pre-season, Ndoro languished on the bench at Pirates for months. He was lucky to even get a seat as Tinkler stuck with Erasmus, Gabuza and the curiously sluggish Lehlohonolo Majoro.

TOLD YOU SO! My tweet in September last year
questioning the disappearance of Tendai Ndoro
On September 15, 2015, I tweeted about Ndoro being surplus to requirements and sent an SMS to Eric Tinkler, a coach who is always polite enough to reply. He said Tendai was not training well, and had confidence problems. 

But needs must. Let’s return to the low point: 3-0 down at half-time to rock-bottom Maritzburg United on January 16, Ndoro comes on at half-time, fails to score but they grab a point, 3-3.

There’s a few up and downs after that but February 21 is the key point. With Gabuza and Erasmus gone, Ndoro scored in the 3-1 win over an in-form Aces in Mpumalanga.

And then the run began. With Chiefs STILL stuck winless since February 20, here’s the full story of Pirates revival with Ndoro’s goals listed:

21 Feb: 3-1 Aces (a) Ndoro 1
27 Feb: 1-0 Celtic (h)
5 March: 2-0 Chiefs (a) Ndoro 2
12 March: 5-0 Cosmos (h) Ndoro 1
16 March: 0-1 Wits (a)
3 April: 3-1 Cosmos (a) Ndoro 2
9 April: Free State Stars 1-0 (h) Ndoro 1
16 April: Arrows 4-1 (a) Nodder 2
23 April Sundowns 2-0 (a) Ndoro 1

Nine games in all competitions, one defeat.. and TEN GOALS for Tendai Ndoro. Pirates have gone WWWWLWWWW while rivals Chiefs are on a run of DDLLLLLD since mid February. Incredible.

During that time, Tebogo Moloi, the long-running assistant boss at Pirates, has disappeared on long leave. Fitness coach Warren Engelbrecht and effervescent goalkeeping trainer Rowen Fernandez sit alongside Tinkler.

Captain Oupa Manyisa has been out injured and has yet to return. Gabuza has played twice for Bafana but not for Pirates. Crowds at the Orlando Stadium have dipped below 3,000. The Iron Duke called a press conference not to announce exciting new developments but to mark the retirement of near-legendary centre-back Siya Sangweni.

The pressure has never eased. Even at 0-0 against Sundowns on Saturday night, the Ghost were haunting Tinkler. Saying he was tactically inept, should have made changes, was hopeless.

But Tinkler just gritted his teeth and held on, as he has ever since Roger de Sa left for Ajax Cape Town two years ago, even when unlamented Vladimir Vermecovic was making a hash of it. Tinkler doesn’t quit. He hangs on despite the odds. And it worked. Down to ten men, Ndoro scored in extra-time, then made the second goal.

And Tinkler, through to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, was left smiling: “We were down to 10 and I had to play that way. I knew they would be vulnerable to the break away… and they were.”

Ndoro, with his streaky hair and slick demeanour said simply: “We work hard. We work as a team. We want the Nedbank Cup.”

Now breathing over the shoulders of arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the PSL and threatening the top four, Tinkler and Ndoro lifting silverware would be the icing on the cake.

And given the position at Christmas, a true footballing fairy tale.



13 comments:

  1. Remarkable talent from Luveve(eS'veveni),let's hope Tebza takes a longer break and allow Tinkler to work in peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I came across many testimonies on net testifying of GREAT Dr OCUSODO a voodoo spell caster that will help you cast a LOTTERY spell and give you the rightful numbers to win the lottery. I didn’t believe it at first. But as life got harder, I decided to take a try. Now my try has made me a millionaire after playing all types of lottery for 7 years and hadn’t won up to $1000. After contacting him he cast the spell and gave me the hot figures. Behold, I won (FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) $70,000. Now I am a living testimony of the good works of GREAT Dr OCUSODO, a gifted man with great powers; it is my secret but I have decided to make the world know too. It might be of help to anyone who is interested. You are free to contact him or email him. ( drocusodospellcaster@gmail.com) or (drocusodospellcaster@yahoo.com) add him on WhatsApp +2347066448668

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. GREETINGS everyone out there.. My name is Sarah Gomez FROM CANADA i will never forget the help Prophet Ayelala rendered to me in my marital life. i have been married for 5 years now and my husband and i love each other very dearly . after 3 years of our marriage my husband suddenly change he was having an affair with a lady outside,i notice it then i was praying for divine intervention the thing became more serious i told my pastor about it we prayed but nothing happen. my husband just came home one day he pick up his things and left me and the kids to his mistress outside at this time i was confuse not knowing what to do again because i have lost my husband and my marriage too. i was searching for help in the internet, i saw many people sharing testimony on how Prophet Ayelala help them out with their marital problems so i contacted the email of Prophet Ayelala i told him my problem and i was told to be calm that i have come to the right place were i can get back my husband within the next 24hours. He told me what went wrong with my husband and how it happen.that they will restored my marriage. to my greatest surprise my husband came to my office begging me on his knees that i should find a place in my heart to forgive him,that he will never cheat on me again. i quickly ask him up that i have forgiven him.friends your case is not too hard why don't you give Prophet Ayelala a try they work surprises because i know they will help you to fix your relationship with your ex partner. i thank god for using Prophet Ayelala to save my marriage. Contact him via Email: ( Ayelala7demons@gmail.com ) Or Reach him on whatsapp: +2347031894318


    ReplyDelete
  4. HOW I WON £4,369,877 WITH DR ALLI LOTTERY MAGIC SPELL

    I am  SARA KIM From UK...I had to write back and say what an amazing experience I had with Dr Alli powerful lottery spell. My Heart is fill with joy and happiness after Dr Alli cast the Lottery spell for me, And i won £4,369,877. His spell change my life into riches, I'm now out of debts and experiencing the most amazing good luck with lottery after i won a huge amount of money. My life has really change for good. I won (Four million three hundred and sixty nine thousand Eight hundred and seventy seven thousand pounds)Your Lottery spell is so real and pure. Thank you very much Dr. Alli for the lottery spell that change my life”I am totally grateful for the lottery spell Dr Alli did for me. You can email him for you own lottery number,because these is the only secret to win lottery.
    Email him:  Allispellhelp1@gmail.com Whats App him: +2348100772528

    ReplyDelete
  5. I came across many testimonies on net testifying of GREAT Dr OCUSODO a voodoo spell caster that will help you cast a LOTTERY spell and give you the rightful numbers to win the lottery. I didn’t believe it at first. But as life got harder, I decided to take a try. Now my try has made me a millionaire after playing all types of lottery for 7 years and hadn’t won up to $1000. After contacting him he cast the spell and gave me the hot figures. Behold, I won (FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) $70,000. Now I am a living testimony of the good works of GREAT Dr OCUSODO, a gifted man with great powers; it is my secret but I have decided to make the world know too. It might be of help to anyone who is interested. You are free to contact him or email him. ( drocusodospellcaster@gmail.com) or (drocusodospellcaster@yahoo.com) add him on WhatsApp +2347066448668

    ReplyDelete
  6. Are you in need of a revenge spell? Do you want the person that has harmed you get what they deserve? My voodoo revenge spells will do just that. Cast it to punish your enemies with misfortune, curses, hexes & bad luck in their lives. Can be specific or general depending on the outcome you want. My spells exact suffering on a person who has genuinely caused you to suffer or has caused you to lose something you hold dear.
    Ruin someone else’s life with misfortune revenge spells that will wreck havoc in the life of your enemy or rival. Cause someone to have bad luck with love, money or business with my powerful misfortune revenge spells. Whatever a person tries to do after this spell will not prosper for a fixed period of time. Has someone taken away your lover? Did your ex-lover treat so bad & cause suffering in your life then dump you for no apparent reason? Did a love rival breakup your marriage or relationship? Did someone curse your love life giving you a string of bad relationships & marriages? My powerful love revenge spells will give you revenge against a specific person who has caused suffering in your love life.
    Revenge spells to punish someone until you are fully avenged. Revenge spells to teach someone a lesson they will never forget using voodoo revenge spells. My spells of revenge will inflict serious harm on your enemies, so do not use my revenge spells unless you are sure. Revenge spells for cheaters & your enemies. Revenge spells and curses to help you get the ultimate revenge. Voodoo revenge spells for cheaters, ex lovers, your enemies & people who want to harm you. Give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot & to punish your enemies with revenge curses & spells for revenge.
    If someone has truly wronged you and you want to get back on them with the ultimate revenge spell, then try this witchcraft death revenge spells. The most precious asset we have is life so the death revenge spell is by far the most powerful revenge spell in the world as it will lead to the death. I only cast the death revenge spell when you have given me all the proof that the person you want to cast upon deserves death as punishment. Spells for revenge to cause your enemy to have sleepless nights & frightening dreams. Banish bad dreams & nightmares if someone has cast bad dreams revenge spells.

    : +27785149508
    EMAIL:profibrahim98@gmail.com
    WEB:http://www.profibrahim.co.za
    http://www.africanancientspells.com
    http://www.africanancientspells.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Happiness is all i see now big thanks to Dr. igene from West Africa (NIGERIA), I never thought that I will live on earth before the year runs out. I have been suffering from a deadly disease herpes Virus for the past 2 years now; I had spent a lot of money going from one place to another, hospitals have been my home every day. Constant checks have been my hobby not until this blessed day, I was searching through the Internet, I saw a testimony on how Dr. igene. from West Africa (NIGERIA) helped someone in curing his herpes Virus . quickly I copied his Whatsapp Contact: +2348133321898 just to give him a test I spoke to him, he asked me to do some certain things which I did,he told me that he is going to provide the herbal cure to me, which he did, then he asked me to go for medical checkup after some days after using the herbal medication, I was free from the deadly disease, he only asked me to post the testimony through the whole world, faithfully am doing it now, please brothers and sisters, he is great, I owe him in return. if you are having a similar problem just contact him by Email: at [ drigeneherbalhome613@gmail.com ] whatsapp him on +2348133321898 HIS HAVE THE CURE TO THIS FOLLOWING DEADLY DISEASE [1] Ischemic heart disease [2] Cerebrovascular disease [3] Lower respiratory infections [4] Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [5] Diarrhea diseases [6] Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers [7] Tuberculosis [8] Diabetes mellifluous [9] Hypertension heart disease [10] HIV/AIDS

    ReplyDelete
  8. AM SO HAPPY TODAY MY HERPES VIRUS AND HEPATITIS B IS CURE,MY LIFE IS BACK AGAIN THANKS GO BE TO GOD AND THE GREAT DR IGENE
    My name is LEO I lives in the United States.I want you all to help me thank Dr.Igene who helped cured me from HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS AND HEPATITIS B in just one (1) week. I got to know him from a friend who he helped, at first I doubt if his herbal product would work until my friend advice me to tried. After which I decided to try to God be the glory am now a living testimony, all thanks to DR.Igene if not him I would not have been healed so easily.. You can reach him on Whatsapp +2348133321898 OR via EMAIL:{drigeneherbalhome613@gmail.com} today for speed Medicine help you can also contact him on cure on
    1. HSV 1&2,Hepatitis B
    2. HIV CURE
    3. STROKE AND
    4. DIABETES MELLITUS
    5. SIMPLEX HERPES
    6. RINGING EAR
    7..Fibriod cure
    8. Epilepsy cure

    ReplyDelete
  9. AM SO HAPPY TODAY MY HERPES VIRUS AND HEPATITIS B IS CURE,MY LIFE IS BACK AGAIN THANKS GO BE TO GOD AND THE GREAT DR IGENE
    My name is LEO I lives in the United States.I want you all to help me thank Dr.Igene who helped cured me from HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS AND HEPATITIS B in just one (1) week. I got to know him from a friend who he helped, at first I doubt if his herbal product would work until my friend advice me to tried. After which I decided to try to God be the glory am now a living testimony, all thanks to DR.Igene if not him I would not have been healed so easily.. You can reach him on Whatsapp +2348133321898 OR via EMAIL:{drigeneherbalhome613@gmail.com} today for speed Medicine help you can also contact him on cure on
    1. HSV 1&2,Hepatitis B
    2. HIV CURE
    3. STROKE AND
    4. DIABETES MELLITUS
    5. SIMPLEX HERPES
    6. RINGING EAR
    7..Fibriod cure
    8. Epilepsy cure

    ReplyDelete
  10. Happiness is all i see now big thanks to Dr. igene from West Africa (NIGERIA), I never thought that I will live on earth before the year runs out. I have been suffering from a deadly disease herpes Virus for the past 2 years now; I had spent a lot of money going from one place to another, hospitals have been my home every day. Constant checks have been my hobby not until this blessed day, I was searching through the Internet, I saw a testimony on how Dr. igene. from West Africa (NIGERIA) helped someone in curing his herpes Virus . quickly I copied his Whatsapp Contact: +2348133321898 just to give him a test I spoke to him, he asked me to do some certain things which I did,he told me that he is going to provide the herbal cure to me, which he did, then he asked me to go for medical checkup after some days after using the herbal medication, I was free from the deadly disease, he only asked me to post the testimony through the whole world, faithfully am doing it now, please brothers and sisters, he is great, I owe him in return. if you are having a similar problem just contact him by Email: at [ drigeneherbalhome613@gmail.com ] whatsapp him on +2348133321898 HIS HAVE THE CURE TO THIS FOLLOWING DEADLY DISEASE [1] Ischemic heart disease [2] Cerebrovascular disease [3] Lower respiratory infections [4] Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [5] Diarrhea diseases [6] Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers [7] Tuberculosis [8] Diabetes mellifluous [9] Hypertension heart disease [10] HIV/AIDS

    ReplyDelete
  11. Good luck to anyone reading this true life story of mine, I Was Diagnosed With type 2 Herpes Virus Last year, And I Was Looking For Solution To Be Cured Luckily I Saw Testimonies On How Dr IGENE Cure Herpes Virus I Decided To Contact Dr IGENE I Contacted Him He Prepared A Herbal Medicine Portion And Sent It To Me, I Started The Herbal Medicine For My Health. He Gave Me Step By Step Instructions On How To Apply It, When I Applied It As Instructed, I Was Cured Of This Deadly Herpes Within 2 weeks, I Am Now Herpes Negative. My Brother And Sister I No That There Are So Many People That Have The Same Herpes Virus Please contact Dr IGENE To Help You Too, And Help Me To Thank Dr IGENE For Cure Me, I’m Cured By Dr. IGENE Herbal Medicine, His Contact Email: [drigeneherbalhome613@gmail.com ] Or Cell Whatsapp Number +2348133321898 thank you

    ReplyDelete
  12. A big thanks to Dr Oselumen i never believe that there still exist a real death spell caster after all this years of disappointment from the enormous spammers on the Internet who go about scamming people, until i was opportune to meet Dr Oselumen a real spell caster, through a close friend called Jennifer who Dr oselumen had helped before, when i contacted him with his email via droselumen@gmail.com i explain how my ex have been giving me problem in my marriage, he never allowed me a moment of peace, and i need to end it by killing him, and i don't want to make use of assassin because it will be risky so i needed to do it in a spiritual way that's why i decided to contact him, he assured me not to worry as i have contacted the right person at the right time, i co-operated with him and in less than a week my ex was dead, he slept and never woke up all thanks to Dr Oselumen indeed he's really a humble man. you can contact dr oselumen for any death spell, such as to kill your superior in the office and take his or her place, death spell to kill your father and inherit his wealth ,death spell to kill anyone who have scammed you in the past ,spell for increase in salaries, spell for promotion at the office, spell to get your ex lover back, if things is not working well in your life then you need to contact him now via Email droselumen@gmail. com call or add him on whatsapp +2348054265852. 

    ReplyDelete