Katsande relishes fine start

Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
SAKUBVA-BRED former Warriors captain, Willard “Salt ‘n’ Vinegar” Katsande, is enjoying his place in the sun as a coach following a fine start to his tenure in charge of Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division One outfit, Grand Legacy.
Five games into the reign, the ex-midfield enforcer has turned the side into a formidable force and one of the most in-form teams.
Their results have been impressive, securing four victories and a draw in five matches. They have not conceded a single goal in that period.
This has catapulted them into fourth position with 22 points – five adrift of pacesetter and ex-Premiership side, Yadah Stars – from 11 matches.
Both their attack (18 goals) and defence (five conceded) is the third best in the league, leaving them with a healthy goal difference of +13 – the second highest.
While Grand Legacy have mustered a compact defence under Katsande’s tutelage, their attack has also been potent – netting nine goals in those five games
It may still be early days in his tenure at the Murewa-based club, but the Kaizer Chiefs legend, is already laying down a marker of his potential in the dugout, and is cherishing the challenge of guiding the modest club to the top.
“The journey has been exciting for me; so far so good. It is a fantastic start that any coach would dream of, especially in a new environment. I am laying a strong foundation of my own ideas and building on what was already in place when I joined the team. As such, we have maintained our unbeaten record at home.
“However, the team was having problems on the road, but the results have significantly improved since I took over. My first assignment was against Destiny Stars, and we clobbered them 3-0, before forcing a goalless draw away to Yadah Stars who had enjoyed a 100 percent home record. To have picked four points in two games and scoring for the first time away to beat Chivhu Stars 1-0 has provided the team with the right tonic to fuel the drive in pursuit of our goals,” enthused the former gritty midfielder.
The players’ positive response to his methods, added Katsande, have made his work easier.
“Our team is functioning like an effective unit, with the players giving it their best shots. We have managed to strike a good balance in both defence and attack. My philosophy is that sharp attack wins games, and solid defence wins titles. We have managed to keep clean sheets in all the five games, while also finding the back of the nets in four. This has propelled us to where we are today, and the team is improving every day,” he said.
He attributed Grand Legacy’s strong start under his tutelage to unity of purpose at the club, crediting the club hierarchy and supporters for fanning the fire of a dream for Premiership promotion.
“Our goal as a club is very clear; we want to bring top-flight league action back to this area. The good thing is that the team’s leadership shares the same vision as me and we will relentlessly purse this goal. The supporters and local community have also been fantastic and everyone is pulling in the same direction. Already, we have turned our home St Paul Musami Ground into our favourite hunting ground.
“We are keen to emulate the St Paul Musami team that used to play here in the 1960s and even won the championship. We are drawing inspiration from that. It is all work in progress and we are geared to grind out positive results. With the spirit currently prevailing at the team, we are optimistic of achieving this goal,” said the former football star, who turned out for Gunners and Highway on the domestic scene.
Katsande expressed optimism of repaying the love and support showered on him by everyone associated with Grand Legacy by delivering a silverware following his turbulent stint at Northern Region Division One side, Rangers.
“The people here deserve the best to match their ambitions in terms of football. They have embraced me as one of their own and want my time at this club to be remembered as fruitful, fulfilling and memorable. I am learning every day and remain confident that together we can go places and achieve a lot through God’s grace,” said the ex-Warriors skipper.
As he braces to take charge of his sixth game at Grand Legacy, Katsande is hoping to put one over his hometown club, Mutare City Rovers when the two sides clash in a league fixture at Musami tomorrow (Saturday).