COMMENT: What's next for Tendai Ndoro following departure from Ajax Cape Town?

Ajax Cape Town released former Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro on Monday after a rather controversial stint at the club.

While the Zimbabwe international was signed to help the Urban Warriors avoid relegation, he would inevitably end up relegating the Ikamva-based team due to his ineligibility.

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Fifa rules stipulate that a player can only play for a maximum of two teams in one season, a rule which Ndoro was found to have contravened.

It should be noted that Pirates’ decision to let Ndoro leave South Africa shocked many as he proved time and again that he was their primary hitman.

The club opted to retain the services of Thamsanqa Gabuza instead; a player who has never been someone known for consistency in front of goal, but Ndoro, who scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances during the 2016/17 season was sold.

But after Pirates finished second on the league standings, their decision was indeed justified, and with players like Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga having been brought in, the club has adequate firepower upfront.

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It should also be considered that age is not necessarily on Ndoro’s side. The Zimbabwean is reaching the twilight of his career, this perhaps showed upon his return to Ajax.

While much was expected, Ndoro only managed just one goal in seven appearances. Granted, that forward was highly influential, but he was not as deadly as the fans would have expected. This though could have been down to the off-field problems that he was going through.

Nonetheless, Ndoro is by no means done with South African football. His conversion rate at both Orlando Pirates and Mpumalanga Black Aces indicates that he is a player that could be useful for any mid-table team.

This would help bring back his confidence after what was a very difficult season for him personally. Moving to a bigger club will only mean more competition and pressure for him, although he is a player that can do offer more than just scoring goals. 

This could be worth a gamble for any team interested in him, but a stumbling block could prove to be his wages. Ndoro comes with a CV that has seen him not only play in SA and his homeland, but he also has international experience having played in the Saudi Arabian league for Al Faisaly.

This means that he won’t come cheap and this could potentially have been the reason that Ajax parted ways with him as they look to cut costs after dropping down to the National First Division.

But Ndoro’s next move is likely to be well looked over, with Kaizer Chiefs fans hopeful that their management will do the right thing and sign the lanky marksman before the start of the season. 

He was slapped with a two-match ban by the South African Football Association (Safa), but that shouldn't prevent any team in the PSL to sign him. In fact, he should do everything in his power to find a new home as early as possible, to give himself time to adapt and work on his fitness after being sidelined towards the end of the season at Ajax.