Johannesburg – Former Zimbabwe international striker Tendai Ndoro, the ex-Orlando Pirates striker, has tragically passed away at the age of 40, found dead in his Johannesburg apartment on Monday. While details surrounding his death remain unclear, a picture is emerging of a man who, despite his past successes on the pitch, spent his final months battling loneliness and isolation.
The former Warriors striker, affectionately known as "Fire" for his scorching touch in front of goal, confided in those close to him that he felt abandoned by family and friends, especially after his marriage to South African citizen Thando Maseko collapsed. He was reportedly diabetic and, ironically, in the process of trying to rebuild his life at the time of his passing.
Messages passed on to H-Metro paint a poignant picture of Ndoro's state of mind. One message to a friend reads: “Since I moved into the new apartment (in Sandton) I never had visitors. The divorce thing made me to stay away from a lot of things, rebuilding and taking it slow but surely.”
He added in another message: “Pain has built me a lot, I fought a silent battle alone, no support from family and friends.”
Ndoro’s former club, Orlando Pirates, confirmed the news with a heartbreaking statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former striker Tendai Ndoro. The club extend heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time."
His former teammate, Chicken Inn FC, also expressed their sadness, stating that he was a great player.
Ndoro enjoyed a successful career, making 14 appearances for Zimbabwe between 2013 and 2017, scoring five goals. He began his professional journey at Nico United in Botswana before making a name for himself at Chicken Inn FC between 2011 and 2013. His impressive goal-scoring record earned him an international call-up and a move to South African giants Orlando Pirates in 2015. He later had stints at Al-Faisaly, Ajax Cape Town, Highlands Park, and Al-Orouba.
Ndoro narrowly missed out on the Golden Boot award in South Africa during the 2016-17 season, a testament to his talent and dedication. His performances earned him a place in Zimbabwe's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
In his final weeks, concerns were raised about Ndoro's well-being. Last week, he and a friend had planned to renew their driving licences in Pretoria. The friend reported that Ndoro was complaining of a nagging headache and nosebleeds. That was the last time they spoke. Subsequent phone calls and messages went unanswered, and his phone was eventually switched off.
After almost a week of silence, worried friends went to his apartment, where caretakers discovered his lifeless body. A postmortem is being carried out to determine the cause of death, and his body is expected to be repatriated to Zimbabwe.
There have been conflicting reports regarding Ndoro's financial situation in recent years. Some reports suggested that he had registered all his assets in the name of his ex-wife, Thando Maseko, leaving him heartbroken and broke.
However, Ndoro himself refuted these claims. In a sports podcast interview, he stated: “To be honest, I want to clear my ex-wife (Maseko)’s name on this. Nothing of that sort happened. I didn’t lose anything, she didn’t take anything. When things happen, we like to point fingers yet we don’t know what would have happened because with my ex-wife, we had a very peaceful divorce. We had assets, it was a matter of take this and I take this. She is clean, she didn’t do anything wrong.”
Despite these denials, questions have lingered about how Ndoro could afford to reside at the luxurious Barlow Park Lifestyle Estate in Sandton, one of Johannesburg's most expensive areas, if he was indeed struggling financially.
The late Tendai Ndoro’s ex-wife has once again become a talking point. A few years ago, Ndoro publicly defended Maseko against accusations that she had taken his assets. He maintained that their divorce was amicable and that she was not responsible for his financial difficulties.
For years, rumours circulated that Ndoro had registered all his properties and luxury cars in his wife’s name, leaving him with nothing after their separation. Images of a frail-looking Ndoro further fueled these rumours, leading many to blame Maseko.
In an interview with South African football journalist Lorenz Kohler, Ndoro firmly denied these claims, stating: “I want to clear my ex-wife (Maseko)’s name on this. Nothing of that sort happened. I didn’t lose anything, she didn’t take anything.”
The family of the late Tendai Ndoro has appealed for privacy as they grieve his passing. In a statement, they expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support, and requested time to prepare for his send-off.
Ndoro’s father, Silas Mukundwa, confirmed that a postmortem was conducted in South Africa on Tuesday. He stated that the family is awaiting the results and is not yet able to provide details regarding burial arrangements, but confirmed that Ndoro will be laid to rest in Zimbabwe.
Mourners have been gathering at the family home in Nketa 8, Bulawayo, to pay their respects.
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