Posted in News, Team News on Jan 06, 2020.
Sitting deep in the bowels of the FNB Stadium on the outskirts of Johannesburg, Willard Katsande was moments away from realising a decades long dream, pondering how he had got to the point where he was now – in the Kaizer Chiefs change room and about to make his debut for the best supported team in South Africa.
It was 17 September 2011 and Chiefs were about to face their arch-rivals, defending league champions Orlando Pirates in the season’s biggest league game. Reflecting on that Saturday afternoon, Katsande comments: “I felt so proud to sit for the first time in the change room holding my Kaizer Chiefs jersey. I was going to make my debut and it came in one of the biggest matches one can imagine; the Soweto Derby.
“We beat Orlando Pirates. After the game I even went to a few photographers to check for pictures, as I had fulfilled a few childhood dreams – wearing the Gold and Black jersey and win a Derby.”
Joining Amakhosi ahead of the 2011/12 season was the realisation of a life-long dream, “It was an absolute honour to sign for Kaizer Chiefs, the biggest team not just in South Africa but on the African continent. When young I could only find out about Chiefs in magazines and while reading those stories, it became my desire to play for the club.”
Having achieved his dream of playing for Chiefs, the Zimbabwean international, is equally proud to be part of the present team as they celebrate their 50th birthday.
“It means a lot to have played for Kaizer Chiefs over the last eight years,” Katsande explains, “and to have won titles and trophies with a club as massive as Chiefs, given its following as well as rich history. It is important for me to be part of this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations.”
With Amakhosi launching a special 50th anniversary jersey in conjunction with their technical sponsors Nike, the defensive midfielder is pleased to be marking this unique milestone in the club’s history. “It is a really nice jersey – it is very different and unique; I feel it represents a half century of Kaizer Chiefs in the best possible way. It is a wonderful jersey which I love very much, and I am sure the fans will go crazy for it.”
Katsande who has featured in 268 games for the Glamour Boys in all competitions since making his debut in September 2011 will go down in the history of the club as a player who always gave his all for the team, having been part of the team that won two league titles and two cup trophies in the 2012/2013 and 2014/2015 seasons.
It was 17 September 2011 and Chiefs were about to face their arch-rivals, defending league champions Orlando Pirates in the season’s biggest league game. Reflecting on that Saturday afternoon, Katsande comments: “I felt so proud to sit for the first time in the change room holding my Kaizer Chiefs jersey. I was going to make my debut and it came in one of the biggest matches one can imagine; the Soweto Derby.
“We beat Orlando Pirates. After the game I even went to a few photographers to check for pictures, as I had fulfilled a few childhood dreams – wearing the Gold and Black jersey and win a Derby.”
Joining Amakhosi ahead of the 2011/12 season was the realisation of a life-long dream, “It was an absolute honour to sign for Kaizer Chiefs, the biggest team not just in South Africa but on the African continent. When young I could only find out about Chiefs in magazines and while reading those stories, it became my desire to play for the club.”
Having achieved his dream of playing for Chiefs, the Zimbabwean international, is equally proud to be part of the present team as they celebrate their 50th birthday.
“It means a lot to have played for Kaizer Chiefs over the last eight years,” Katsande explains, “and to have won titles and trophies with a club as massive as Chiefs, given its following as well as rich history. It is important for me to be part of this year’s 50th anniversary celebrations.”
With Amakhosi launching a special 50th anniversary jersey in conjunction with their technical sponsors Nike, the defensive midfielder is pleased to be marking this unique milestone in the club’s history. “It is a really nice jersey – it is very different and unique; I feel it represents a half century of Kaizer Chiefs in the best possible way. It is a wonderful jersey which I love very much, and I am sure the fans will go crazy for it.”
Katsande who has featured in 268 games for the Glamour Boys in all competitions since making his debut in September 2011 will go down in the history of the club as a player who always gave his all for the team, having been part of the team that won two league titles and two cup trophies in the 2012/2013 and 2014/2015 seasons.
