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KAIZER Chiefs midfield hardman Willard Katsande has been rewarded for his commitment and discipline with Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday installing him as the senior side’s captain ahead of their African Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi away on Saturday.
The former Gunners and Ajax Cape Town midfielder is one of nine foreign-based professionals who were at Rufaro yesterday as Zimbabwe got their preparations underway for the Group L tie at Kamuzu Stadium.
Katsande, a consistent performer for his club, was voted the Kaizer Chiefs Player of the 2014-2015 season after helping Amakhosi win the South African Premiership title.
Pasuwa, who is racing against time to prepare his squad after problems stalled the start of camp including the impasse he had with ZIFA over his contract, revealed that he would settle for the midfield enforcer to lead the team.
It is the first time that Katsande has been bestowed with such an honour.
Danny Phiri of Chicken Inn, who is also in camp, was the skipper of the Warriors side that was largely made up of local players at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa last month.
FC Platinum’s Wisdom Mutasa is the national Under-23 captain and has been included in the team that will travel to Blantyre as Pasuwa rewarded some of the stars of his Young Warriors that bravely fought a 1-1 draw with Cameroon in a 2015 African Games final qualifier.
But the Nations Cup is a bigger stage and Pasuwa needed a more seasoned player to lead his troops and the former Dynamos mentor, speaking after the training session at Rufaro said he had settled for Katsande.
“I was waiting for the other coaches in the team to come so that we can have our captain of the day.
“But we had prior discussions and we thought Willard Katsande should take up the armband,” said Pasuwa.
It had to take the intervention of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Andrew Langa to get Pasuwa who also doubles up as Young Warriors coach to agree to lead the senior team after he had reached a standstill with the ZIFA Board.
Pasuwa took charge with the assistance of Hwange’s Nation Dube while Saul Chaminuka and goalkeeper’s coach Richard Tswatswa were still to turn up.
There was cause for concern however, after the team trained without a physiotherapist or doctor amid indications that they are withholding their services until they have been offered ZIFA contracts. — Sportszone
Online Reporter