Sundaymail Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
KAIZER CHIEFS are now in Casablanca, Morocco, for a historic Champions League final against Al Ahly at the Mohammed V Stadium on Saturday night.
Zimbabwean international Willard Katsande is part of the squad and could make history if he appears in the final.
With 325 appearances, the 35-year-old shares the record with countryman Tinashe Nengomasha – now retired – of foreign players who have represented Amakhosi the most in official matches.
“We landed safely in Morocco; the environment is tops and we are ready to rumble,” Katsande told The Sunday Mail Sport.
This is the first time Kaizer Chiefs are playing in the CAF Champions League final in their 51-year history.
Another Zimbabwean, Khama Billiat, is expected to play a part as he has recovered from injury.
This could be Billiat’s second appearance in a Champions League final with a different team, having done so with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016.
Katsande has been telling anyone who cares to listen that although Al Ahly are odds-on favourites to lift a 10th Champions League title, the Egyptians could underestimate Amakhosi at their own peril.
The former Warriors skipper, who has a lot of continental football experience, says Chiefs want to win to atone for a terrible domestic season in which they finished a distant eighth behind league winners Mamelodi Sundowns.
And he reiterated as much earlier in the week when speaking to the media in South Africa before Chiefs set off for Morocco.
“They [Al Ahly] are a good team with a rich history in Africa. What we will do is give them the respect they deserve . . .,” Katsande said.
“But when it comes to match day, it is a matter of who wants it more, so we are just going there with our tag as underdogs, yet wanting to showcase our talent because we know that we are hungry to achieve.
“We didn’t come this far by mistake or fluke. We are here because we deserve to be here and whoever wants it more on match-day is bound to get whatever they want.
“Obviously, they will come with complacency and try to undermine us but at the end of the day, it is not about history but rather 90 minutes. If you want it more, you will get it. We have seen it in the Euros how football has been changing.
“It is not about big teams but rather who wants it more on that day, so we are geared up and ready to rumble. We have sharpened our swords, pulled our sleeves up and we are ready to rumble.
“Coming from a difficult season, we want to redeem ourselves. We know how much we wanted to progress. We have wanted to do this before but we failed, and it was lessons learnt. This time it was a chance for us to progress and we kept on believing in ourselves and kept on focussing on our job.”
Online Reporter