Willard Katsande Names Stuart Baxter, Norman Mapeza Among Coaches Guiding His Career
Former Zimbabwe international Willard Katsande is drawing on lessons from some of football’s experienced coaches as he builds his career in the dugout, including Stuart Baxter, the last coach to win a league title with Kaizer Chiefs.
The 40-year-old, affectionately known as Salt and Pepper, is in his first season as a professional coach and has identified possession-based football, disciplined defending and organised build-up play as key elements of his approach.
Katsande is currently working with FC Oden in Zimbabwe’s Northern Region Soccer League after earlier short spells with second-tier sides Grand Legacy and Chinhoyi Rangers.
Also Read: Kaizer Chiefs Legend Willard Katsande Wins Five Of First Six Games At FC Oden
Katsande Explains His Coaching Philosophy
Katsande believes teams must first establish a solid defensive structure if they want to control possession and create attacking opportunities.
Rather than treating defending and attacking as separate responsibilities, he views a well-organised defence as the foundation for building attacks effectively.
“My philosophy as a coach is, in order for us to do what we love, which is keeping possession, we need to go and get the ball. So, we’re talking about the whole structure, proper build-ups,” Katsande told KickOff.
He added that defensive organisation can give a team a platform to attack while reducing the risk of conceding goals.
“I can say a good defensive structure can set you up for a first phase to attack well. So, if you defend well with a good structure, you don’t concede and you stand a chance to score.”
Stuart Baxter Remains A Key Mentor
Katsande has credited Baxter with influencing his football development during the Englishman’s first spell in charge of Kaizer Chiefs between 2012 and 2015.
Baxter led Amakhosi to the South African Premiership title in the 2012/13 season, the club’s last league championship to date.
Despite moving into coaching himself, Katsande continues to seek advice from the former Bafana Bafana coach as he learns the demands of managing a team.
“Of course, I still get guidance from him. I also still get guidance from Sundra Govender (former development coach at Chiefs), and locally, I always talk to Scottland coach Norman Mapeza and the coach of CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi.
So, those are the guys I’m surrounded with, whatever happens I’m always around them, they are there to mentor me,” Katsande said.
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