Former Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro was found dead in his Sandton apartment on Monday, August 18, with the cause of death yet to be confirmed pending a postmortem.
Ndoro, who represented the Zimbabwe Warriors between 2013 and 2017, had in recent months shared troubling messages about loneliness, heartbreak, and his struggles following a painful divorce.
A Star Left Broken and Alone
According to Zimbabwe’s H-Metro, Ndoro died a “bitter and lonely man.” In the days before his death, he confided in close friends that he felt abandoned by both family and companions.
In one of his final messages, he wrote:
“Since I moved into the new apartment in Sandton, I never had visitors. The divorce made me stay away from a lot of things. I was rebuilding, taking it slow but surely.”
In another, he revealed:
“Pain has built me a lot. I fought a silent battle alone, with no support from family and friends.”
Health Struggles and Final Moments
Ndoro had been living at the Barlouw Park Lifestyle Estate in Sandton. A close friend recalled how the former striker had recently complained of nosebleeds and headaches, just before the two planned a trip to Pretoria to renew their driver’s licences. That was the last conversation they shared.
After a week of silence, worried friends asked the caretaker to check on him. His lifeless body was discovered inside the apartment.
Haunting TikTok Video
Days before his death, Ndoro posted an emotional TikTok video listening to a love song by Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah, which speaks about longing for a virtuous partner. The clip went viral after his death, alongside another resurfaced video where Ndoro discussed his ex-wife, Thando Maseko.
The timing was chilling—painting the image of a man wrestling with grief and loneliness in his final days.
Health Battles in Retirement
Ndoro had endured health challenges in recent years. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, a condition that impaired his eyesight and forced him into early retirement in 2020.
Earlier this year, reports suggested he had been hospitalised in Durban due to diabetes-related complications. Ndoro later denied the claims, releasing a video statement:
“Hello guys, I’m okay. I’m in the hospital, undergoing treatment for a tumour that developed under my armpit. It’s not diabetes. I’m sick, yes, but it’s not that serious.”