TENDAI NDORO WHERE HAVE YOU’VE BEEN?

Tendai Ndoro celebrating a goal ( Image: BackpagePix)

This is the question that Orlando Pirates fans have been asking themselves lately as the Zimbabwean international striker is fastly proving to be the solution to the goal scoring problems the club once encountered in the past.

The on-form striker scored an extra-time goal and provided an assist to secure a Nedbank cup semi-final spot for the Buccaneers after a 2-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe stadium yesterday.

Arguably the most in-form striker currently in the South African league, Ndoro has scored 10 goals in his last nine games for the Sea robbers.

In recent weeks, the striker has received the nickname “fire” from the club’s supporters following his goal-scoring form which has seen him win numerous man of the match awards.

The Zimbabwean striker scored a goal after 19 minutes of play in the extra-time after a superb long ball played by Thabo Qalinge. He shortly followed the goal with an assist for Mpho Makola to slot home the second goal.

The 30-year old joined Orlando Pirates from Mpumalanga Black Aces on a free transfer at the beginning of the season.  He is a proven goal scorer who won the Zimbabwean premier league top goal scorer with 18 goals while playing for Chicken Inn in 2013.

Born in Luwewe, Zimbabwe in 1988, Ndoro has set himself a target of finishing as the club’s top goal scorer this season. He is currently on 10 goals in all competitions, one more than Mpho Makola.

The semi-final draw of the Nedbank cup will be made on Monday of 26 April at the PSL headquarters in Parktown, Johannesburg. This year’s draw will include Free State stars, Supersport United, Orlando Pirates and a winner between Polokwane City and Baroka FC.

WILL LIVERPOOL EVER BECOME EUROPEAN GIANTS AGAIN?

"TOETIE" APPOINTED AS NEW BOKS COACH

Picture: Getty Images

Allister “Toetie” Coetzee has been named as the new Springboks coach on a four year deal replacing outgoing Heyneke Meyer who enjoyed a tough spell to his rugby career during the 2015 IRB rugby world cup in England.

The 52 year old Grahamstown-born coach is no stranger to the Springboks set up having worked with Jake White as the assistant coach during the 2007 rugby world cup.

 He spent six years coaching the Stormers in Super rugby, he also led Western province to two Currie cup titles in 2012 and 2014.In 2015 he served a short stint at Japanese outfits Kobelco Steelers. 

Coetzee comes into the role with a huge task of introducing new replacements for retired veterans such as Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, and Victor Mitfield.

South Africa rugby union (SARU) president, Oregan Hoskins described this appointment as an exciting time in South African rugby.

“It is a watershed moment for our game with new players developing alongside a spine of experience and it was the right time to have a new man guiding the Springboks for the foreseeable future,” Hoskins said.

He assured South Africans that Allister has their support as SARU.

“We will be united in our effort to continue to make Springboks rugby strong. I want to wish him well in his new job, I also want to pay tribute to Heyneke and his management team for their dedication and service to Springbok rugby for the past four years,” he said.

Former Springboks Seven captain Mzwandile “Stick” Mtembu will join Johann van Graan as the assistant coach with Ian Schwartz carrying with his role as the team manager.

Coetzee’s coaching reign begins with three home tests at home against Ireland in June. 

INJURY FORCE SANGWENI TO RETIRE

Syabonga Sangweni  image by Backpagepix

Orlando Pirates defender, Syabonga Sangweni (34) has announced his retirement from football after receiving medical advices over his long term  injuries.

The Dondotha-born defender last represented Orlando Pirates in the final of the CAF Confederations cup against Tunisian giants Etoile du Sahel.

Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza confirmed the news in the club's website.
He praised the professionalism of Sangweni saying " He led by example rather than words".

"His natural leadership qualities were self-evident. It was therefore not a surprise nor coincidence that it was under his helm as vice-captain that Orlando Pirates won its second treble. He commanded respect amongst his peers. His leadership was a quite one. He was more expressive rather than talkative," Khoza said.

The veteran defender represented Bafana Bafana on 29 occasions. He played a crucial role in Bafana Bafana reaching the 2013 African cup of Nations quarter-final.

Khoza said the actions of Sangweni to postpone his wedding when its organization was at an advance stage last year November reminded him of Jomo Sono's actions.

Sangweni postponed his wedding to travel with Orlando Pirates to Tunis to play in the CAF Confederation Cup Final.

BRATHWAITE LEAD WINDIES TO SECOND WORLD T20 TITLE

West Indies Carlos Brathwaite (R) and Marlon Samuels celebrate victory over England in the World T20 final (AFP Photo/Dibyangshu Sarkar)

Carlos Brathwaite produced a batting masterclass in the last over of their innings against England at Eden Gardens to lead the Windies to their second World Twenty20 title in four years.

The 27-year old batman smashed four consecutive sixes in Ben Stokes last over to secure a four wicket victory for his side with two balls left to be bowled.

The Windies went into the last over needing a massive score of 19 runs from six balls,  with expert death overs bowler everyone thought England was well posed to clinch the title when Captain Eoin Morgan throw the ball to Stokes to bowl the last over.

Brathwaite proved his selection to the squad ahead of Jason Holder by hitting four maximums and leaving Stokes furious on the field.

Brathwaite finished the clash with match figures of 34 from 10 deliveries, while Marlon Samuels was named man of the match for his impressive score of 85 from 66 balls.

Brathwaite also finished the match with the best bowling figures by a Windies bowler. He took three wicket and conceded 23 runs in his four overs.

West Indies captain, Darren Sammy won his sixth toss of the tournament and sent the England at the crease to bat first.

England posted 155/9 in their 20 overs at a run rate of 7.75.

Joe Root and Jos Buttler were the highest scorer in England’s inning with Root scoring 54 runs off 36 balls and Buttler scoring 36 runs off 22 balls.

In reply to the target West Indies posted 161/6 with two ball remaining at a run rate of 8.18.

West Indies didn’t get off to a good start in their chase as openers Chris Gayle and Johnson Charles were dismissed at two and seven respectively through the bowling of Joe Root, with both catches taken by Ben Stokes.

Two retired cricket legends India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara applauded West Indies for their performance and victory in their twitter accounts.

@sachin_rt

 WI all the way!! True champions, be it u19s, women’s or men’s championship! Super staff by team WI! Brathwaite was breathtaking! #WT20Final

@KumarSanga2

Amazing game. What a performance by the Windies. Strong belief, stronger faith. What a statement in more ways than one. #Caribbean flair.

Skipper Darren Sammy praised his team performance saying they never “stopped believing”.

“The way Brathwaite did that was incredible. We now need to kick on in ODI and Test cricket,” Sammy said.

England Skipper Eoin Morgan shared his disappointment about the result saying the score wasn’t really enough.

“We should have got 180-190. Badree is a fantastic bowler and we didn’t play him well enough. The bowler were brilliant to give us a chance,” Morgan said.

India’s Virat Kohli was named player of the tournament for smashing 273 runs in five innings at a breathtaking average of 136.50. He scored three fifties including 89* in the semi-final defeat to West Indies.