Palacios needs to find a way to get Ndoro less wayward‚ and the rest of Pirates scoring

Orlando Pirates’ reliance on star striker Tendai Ndoro for goals is becoming an issue that the club will hope to show signs of resolving during Saturday’s Premier Soccer League fixture against Highlands Park.

Bucs host bottom-placed Highlands at Orlando Stadium‚ following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Baroka FC in Polokwane on Wednesday night.

That match was overshadowed by the bicycle kick six minutes in to injury time by Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke that grabbed a draw for the team from Polokwane‚ and international attention for the player.

But what it should not distract from – and nor should Bucs’ still unbeaten record in the league under caretaker-coach Augusto Palacios – is that a flat Pirates never really deserved victory against Baroka‚ with the National First Division champions shading play and the scoring chances.

What was evident again on Wednesday night was two things.

Firstly‚ that when PSL top scorer Ndoro finds himself out of a game he loses interest. The Zimbabwean had one early chance when he rounded Masuluke but could not finish from a tight angle‚ then became anonymous.

The second point to be reinforced was one that has been evident all season – that when Ndoro becomes disinterested Pirates’ attack loses its edge.

Bucs’ one defeat under Palacios was the 2-0 Telkom Knockout semifinal loss against on-form SuperSport United in Nelspruit on Saturday.

It’s been a good start. Still‚ increasingly it has become glaring that the coach needs to find a way‚ firstly‚ to try to rectify Ndoro’s waywardness when he’s not on song in a game.

Secondly‚ to get Bucs’ other string of proven goal-scorers somehow scoring. Against Baroka‚ and in most of their matches this season‚ players in the frontline such as Mpho Makola‚ Luvuyo Memela and Thabo Qalinge just do not seem to be getting themselves into the box enough.

And when they do‚ they fail to shoot on sight enough.

Ndoro is a prized racehorse‚ probably the best out-and-out striking asset for any team this season and on course to be the PSL’s top scorer. He has streaked ahead already with his nine league goals in 10 games‚ to second-placed Lebogang Manyama’s five.

But that only two other Bucs players have weighed in with one goal each – Memela and centreback Justice Chabalala with his close-range volley from a corner against Baroka – must be a growing concern for Palacios.

Highlands were denied an opportunity to bounce back from their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday when their home match against Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday night was abandoned due to a storm.

That game has been rescheduled to December 7 by the PSL.

Gordon Igesund’s stragglers are desperate for points and will be a dangerous prospect to come up against for Pirates.

  - TMG Digital/ TMG Sport