Willard Katsande Reveals What Kaizer Chiefs Must Do To Win Trophies Again
Football legend Willard Katsande believes Kaizer Chiefs must develop a winning mentality and deliver consistent performances if they are to return to the top of South African football.
The former Zimbabwe international, affectionately known as “Salt and Pepper” during his playing days, says the current squad must understand the expectations that come with representing one of the country’s biggest football institutions and repay the club through performances on the pitch.
Chiefs have collected 14 points from their opening eight Betway Premiership matches and sit fifth on the standings, nine points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Katsande Identifies Consistency As Chiefs’ Biggest Need
Speaking to KickOff, Katsande said Amakhosi need to produce results regularly if they hope to compete with the league’s leading teams and challenge for silverware.
“For me I just feel like they just need to have consistency. When you want to compete with the big boys and you want to be part and parcel of that top three we were last season, we need to be consistent,” he said.
Katsande stressed that winning remains central to the club’s identity, arguing that supporters expect results even when the team is not at its best.
“Each and every game we need to be competent, you know the culture of Kaizer Chiefs, you just need to win, no matter you are having a bad day at the office but you need to win.”
He added that winning matches and lifting trophies were key to maintaining the bond between the club and its supporters.
“For people to fall in love with Chiefs is about winning and winning trophies, so those guys need to know where they are, the coach also needs to know that the people are thirsty to win silverware and bring back the club where it is supposed to be.”
Former Midfielder Challenges Current Chiefs Players
Katsande also urged the present generation of players to raise their standards and recognise the responsibility that comes with playing for the club.
He argued that the players have the facilities and support they need to succeed, leaving them with the responsibility of delivering results on the field.
“You are playing for the best institution, whereby everything is provided. The only thing you need is to repay the team by performance,” Katsande said.
He believes the sooner the players recognise the need to deliver consistently, the better their chances of earning recognition and helping Chiefs return to winning ways.
Katsande Wants Players To Leave A Lasting Legacy
The former midfielder also reflected on the importance of treating every match as an opportunity to prove oneself, warning that players should not take their places in the team for granted.
He urged the current squad to approach every fixture with the determination to secure a result, regardless of whether they are playing at home or away.
“You have to be remembered one day when you leave the village that I’m one of the guys who were there to be remembered, not like one day when they talk about Chiefs, they don’t remember you, because you did not do much,” he said.
Katsande explained that he approached every match as though it could be his last, knowing that competition for places meant there were no guarantees of featuring in the next game.
“I took every game as if it’s my last because you don’t know if you’re going to play the next game and the next thing you are going to be replaced,” he added.
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