Katsande donates Afcon loot to village

Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
WARRIORS’ captain Willard Katsande yesterday feted families in his home village of Kawere in Mutoko as he donated groceries to the elderly.

Katsande used half of his rich pickings from the Warriors’ sojourn to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to buy groceries that he distributed to the villagers where he comes from.

The Kaizer Chiefs hard tackler said he felt it was time he gave to the elderly after channelling funds to an annual youth tournament that he started in 2011. He bought grocery items worth $12 500, half of the $25 000 he got for his participation in the biennial continental tourney.

“The community I come from has been amazing showing me great support and backed me in every game that I have played.

The love and support I have received is immense hence I felt compelled to give back to the elders. I am taking half of what I received on national duty and would be buying grocery items that would be distributed to villagers in my home area,” said Katsande in an interview on Friday.

He said after funding the Willard Katsande Under-18 Soccer Tournament for the past four years he felt it was time to give to the elderly. The youth tourney has been one of the highlights of his off-season when Katsande would bring team mates and coaches from the Absa Premiership to watch young talent battle it out. The Warriors exited the tourney at the group stage after failing to notch up a single win at the continental tourney as they drew with Algeria before falling to Senegal and Tunisia.

Meanwhile, Katsande said it will take a lot of convincing to return to the international scene after announcing his retirement following the Warriors’ doomed journey to Afcon. He said he might reconsider the decision but it would take some persuading, on being asked why he was retiring from the international scene at the age of 31.

“It will take some persuasion for me to really come back to play for the country. I have made up my mind as I feel I have to make way for young blood into the national team,” said Katsande.