Sundaymail Editor
SOUTH AFRICA – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has given praise to departed Amakhosi icon Willard Katsande and has predicted that the player will one day return to Naturena in another role.
Katsande’s journey with Amakhosi came to an end earlier this week when the Soweto giants announced that the Zimbabwean midfielder will no longer serve the club, 10 years after joining them from Ajax Cape Town.
The hard-working Katsande made over 300 appearances for the club and is the most capped foreign player in the history of the club.
“Willard obviously played for me during my first time with Chiefs. Willard was a warrior wearing gold and black and he became Chiefs through and through.
“Every player goes through phases in their career and you adapt to that phase. Willard went through phases and he adjusted.
“At some point, players say ‘well my role is such that I don’t want to do that, I want to move on’. I am sure Willard will have a role with Kaizer Chiefs in future because he has been an icon of the club.
“Same as the day Itu (Khune) wants to hang up his gloves. I am sure that there will be a job for him at Kaizer Chiefs because he is an icon of the club.
Willard has been a warrior and personally, he has been a great player for me. He is one of those players who can be an example for other South African players because he has made himself into a player.
“He was not the most talented in the world. He was not the most gifted player in the world. Things did not come easy to Willard Katsande.
“He made sure that he learnt the game and he made sure he did what he was good at. He made a very good career out of it and he will always be an icon of this football club.” – Soccerladuma
Online Reporter