Former Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town striker Tendai Ndoro found dead in Sandton

Former Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town striker Tendai Ndoro has died at the age of 40.

The Zimbabwean is reported to have been found dead at his home in Sandton, Johannesburg, throwing the soccer fraternity into a state of mourning on Monday.  

"Orlando Pirates Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former striker, Tendai Ndoro (2015–2017)," Pirates announced.

"The club extends heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time." 

Ndoro broke into the limelight when he was playing for Chicken Inn FC in Zimbabwe's Premier Soccer League between 2011 and 2013, and he also had a spell with Nico United in Botswana.

It was his performance with Chicken Inn that earned him a transfer to South Africa, and he signed for Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2013.

His star continued to shine even more, and he attracted interest from the Soweto giants, who signed him in 2015, and he was part of them until 2017. 

The striker also had stints with Cape Town, Highlands Park, Al-Faisaly of Saudi Arabia, and Al-Orouba of Oman. 

Fire, as Ndoro was famously known in football circles, was a prolific goal scorer for Bucs. In the 2016/17 season, he was a Premier Soccer League Golden Boot contestant but narrowly lost to Lebogang Manyama of Cape Town City FC, who scored 13 goals compared to Ndoro's 12.

He played for Zimbabwe from 2013 to 2017 and was part of the Warriors squad at the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Gabon.

After an eventful career that saw him play for more than eight clubs, the Zimbabwean has passed away. 

What now remains are his burial arrangements as the soccer fraternity mourns after the death of a star who gave it all to football. 

GOAL would like to express its condolences to Ndoro’s friends and family.