Kaizer Chiefs Vetaran And Legend Willard Katsande Reviews His Best Moment In South Africa

Kaizer Chiefs Vetaran And Legend Willard Katsande Reviews His Best Moment In South Africa

Willard Katsande is a former Zimbabwean footballer who played as a defensive midfielder for the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Kaizer Chiefs. The 37-year-old spoke to Lethabo Kganyago of iDiski Times about his life as an ambassador for his former club Sekhukhune United and his business ventures. In the interview, Katsande reflected on the highlights of his career, including his signing with Kaizer Chiefs, a moment that he considers to be the turning point of his career.

Katsande had given up on his football career in South Africa, but fate had a different plan for him. During the FIFA break in August, while playing for the Zimbabwe national team against Zambia, Bobby Motaung, the Kaizer Chiefs football manager, expressed his interest in signing Katsande. Motaung asked Tinashe Nengomasha, another Zimbabwean who was playing for Ajax Cape Town at the time, why Katsande was not playing for the team. The next thing Katsande knew, he had signed a contract with Kaizer Chiefs.

For Katsande, the experience of breaking into the Kaizer Chiefs setup was a highlight of his career. He had to teach himself how to play the defensive midfield position, which he had not played before. Katsande worked hard to prove himself, and eventually, people fell in love with him.

Katsande’s journey to becoming a professional footballer was not an easy one. He grew up in the small town of Mutoko in Zimbabwe and had to overcome many challenges to pursue his dream of playing football. As a child, Katsande would play football with his friends in the dusty streets of Mutoko using a makeshift ball made of plastic bags. His passion for the game was evident, and he knew that he wanted to become a professional footballer.

Katsande’s family was supportive of his dreams, and his mother would often attend his matches. However, his father was skeptical of his ambitions and encouraged him to focus on his studies instead. Despite his father’s reservations, Katsande continued to pursue his passion for football and eventually caught the attention of scouts from the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Katsande’s breakthrough came when he was scouted by the Zimbabwean PSL club Highway, where he played for two seasons. He then moved to the South African PSL club Ajax Cape Town, where he played for four seasons before signing with Kaizer Chiefs.

Katsande’s success on the football field has not gone unnoticed, and he has been recognized for his contributions to the game. In 2016, he won the PSL Midfielder of the Season award and was also named the Kaizer Chiefs Player of the Season. Katsande’s hard work and dedication have made him a role model for young footballers in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Off the field, Katsande has also been active in supporting his community. He has established the Willard Katsande Foundation, which aims to provide opportunities for underprivileged children in Zimbabwe. The foundation focuses on education and sport, with the goal of helping children to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

In addition to his charitable work, Katsande has also ventured into the business world. He owns several businesses in Zimbabwe, including a car dealership, a construction company, and a clothing line. Katsande’s business ventures are a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and his determination to succeed both on and off the football field.

Despite retiring from professional football in 2021, Katsande’s legacy in the game will live on. He has left a lasting impression on the South African football scene and has inspired a new generation of footballers in Zimbabwe.