Katsande misses father

JOHANNESBURG. — Former Zimbabwe captain Willard Katsande was only nine when he lost his father, but the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder is grateful for everything his deceased dad did for him while he was still alive.

The Zimbabwean anchorman, who hails from Mutare, says his father instilled the love for football in him when he named him after the late Zimbabwean soccer legend Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo.

Katsande, who arrived in South Africa in 2010 to play for Ajax Cape Town before being snatched up by Amakhosi in 2011, has enjoyed his career with the Soweto giants and believes his late father could have been proud of his achievements.

“I think if he was alive today, he was going to be proud of me. He gave me the name, Willard, after a Zimbabwean legend who used to play football. He also used to take me to stadiums to watch big teams in Zimbabwe like Dynamos. He loved soccer very much, but he did not play it,” said the Chiefs midfielder.

“My father loved me so much because I was the only boy out of seven children. What pains me the most is that he didn’t want me to see him when he was approaching his death.

“I don’t know why, but when I asked they said his conditions were too much, and I was still young.”

Meanwhile, Golden Arrows striker Knox Mutizwa has dreams of one day winning the PSL Golden Boot Award, but he’s mostly focused on improving on last season’s scoring record with the club.

Mutizwa has rejoined Arrows on loan again from Bidvest Wits and the Zimbabwean forward is hoping to carry on from where he left off last season.

He showed glimpses of brilliance during the second half of the season with Arrows, scoring five goals in 14 league appearances for the KZN outfit.

“There’s always room for improvement. I scored five goals in 14 appearances. I think this season I can do better than I did last season,” Mutizwa tells KickOff.com.

“Every striker dreams of becoming a top scorer in the league, so one day I dream of becoming a top goalscorer in the PSL.

“(Scoring) Five goals in the league and five goals in Cosafa will motivate me every time I get on the field.

“If I’m on the field they (his teammates) are putting the ball in the box for me to score, so I’m going to improve from five goals in the Cosafa Cup and five goals in the PSL. I can assure you I’m going to improve this season,” he adds. — Kick-Off.