Football
Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Willard Katsande Makes Interesting Bold Claim about Amakhosi
Former Kaizer Chiefs captain Willard Katsande shares bold optimism about Amakhosi’s potential for success in the Betway Premiership under coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Image Credits: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images
Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande has given his thoughts on how far he thinks the club will go in the Betway Premiership.
The Soweto giants appointed Tunisian mentor Nasreddine Nabi as their new head coach at the start of the 2024/25 season.
The 59-year-old tactician is tasked to change the club's fortunes after almost a decade without winning any silverware under different experienced coaches.
Moreover, Amakhosi have also bolstered their squad significantly as they seek to challenge for trophies this season.
Players like former Mamelodi Sundowns star Gaston Sirino, ex-Petro de Luanda defender Inacio Miguel, and Bafana Bafana international Njabulo Blom are amongst new recruits.
Despite being the most decorated and supported club in South Africa, the Motaung family-owned club hasn't won a major trophy since lifting the league title under the guidance of Stuart Baxter in the 2014/15 campaign.
In the last campaign, the Naturena-based giants finished in a disappointing 10th position in the Premier Soccer League table, under fired interim coach Cavin Johnson.
Continentally, the Glamour Boys last played a CAF-Inter-club match when they lost in a Champions League final against Al Ahly, who were still coached by Pitso Mosimane, in 2021.
However, Chiefs have kickstarted the 2024/25 season on a high note - having won two out of their first three opening matches.
Potential league title contenders
Given Chiefs' promising start to the season, Katsande is hoping for a successful journey in the new campaign under a proven winning gaffer.
Actually, the former captain is confident that Chiefs could even become league contenders as the season goes by.
"We might have a good season, but the coach needs more transfer windows to bring together his team, but at the same time, at least if he can win one trophy and qualify for the caf inter-club competition," Katsande told SportsBoom.com.
"At the moment, I may think of qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup, that would be fine. But looking at how other teams are playing; I think we are not far from them.”
"I need the coach to try to qualify for the Confederation and because he knows African football well, he may succeed and our prayers will get experience there, especially young stars.”
We can even challenge for the league because there is a lot of unconvincing from teams so far, so why not, we can challenge for the league as long as we have the right mind.
Willard Katsande
Consistency is a key to success
Salt & Pepper, as the former midfielder is affectionately known, believes if Chiefs players keep their consistency, they could turn things around.
Amakhosi have so far shown their aggressiveness towards opponents, unlike last season where they could not fight back after conceding goals.
"We need to take one game at a time and continue with consistency. All we need is to work in our consistency," he said.
"Every player must know that they are playing for a big team, and they must improve every game because at Chiefs there is no time to relax.”
"If we get it right that way, I think we can compete, we're gonna have a very good season. In that way, we are going to achieve a lot under coach Nabi."
Amakhosi are set to play against SuperSport United twice this month, firstly in the Carling Knockout Cup, and secondly in a PSL clash.
Nabi and his charges will be hoping to end the trophy drought this season - with the league title, Carling Knockout Cup, and Nedbank Cup up there for grabs.
A natural sersitile soccer player who had a dream of turning out for Kaizer Chiefs, but ended up being a sports journalist. I fell in love with writing about football during my university studies in 2018.