After serving as Zimbabwe captain, ex-Kaizer Chiefs hardman Willard Katsande has been handed a key role by the Zimbabwe Football Association [ZIFA].
Katsande retired from professional football in 2022 after a stint at Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership.
But he made a name for himself while at Chiefs, where he made over 300 appearances with 18 goals and nine assists while playing as a defensive midfielder.
For The Warriors of Zimbabwe, he made 27 appearances and managed three goals in a period he served as the captain. As such, he has again been called to take a leading role in reviving Zimbabwean football, this time around in an administrative role.
KATSANDE APPOINTED INTO ZIFA’S DIASPORA AND GLOBAL INTERACTION COMMITTEE
Katsande has been appointed to ZIFA’s Ad hoc committee, which focuses on Diaspora and Global Interaction.
The committee’s main purpose is to foster engagement between stakeholders, footballers and fans based outside of Zimbabwe. They will also be expected to help identify some of the prospective Warriors players plying their trade outside the country.
Over the years, UK-based football enthusiast Marshall Gore has helped the country find some of the best-performing players in the current national team.
These include Udinese left-back Jordan Zemura, Huddersfield Town forward Tawanda Chirewa and Andy Rinomhota of Cardiff City. And Katsande was drafted into this committee to aid and expand those efforts. He is among the most active retired footballers based beyond Zimbabwe’s borders.
This is one of the committees set up to ensure a smooth transition for the newly christened ZIFA board. The new board is led by Nqobile Magwizi.
The Diaspora and Global Interaction Committee will be led by Gore, as the chairperson. Gore was one of the losing presidential candidates during the elections that were held on the 25th of January.
Modern Ngwenya is the vice-chairperson. Jadel Football Academy owner Walter Musanhu is also a committee member of the ensemble. Additionally, the former Chiefs star Willard Katsande and Tizirai Luphahla, complete the list of committee members.
KATSANDE WILL BE HOPING FOR A SUCCESS STORY AT ZIFA
It remains to be seen if Katsande can forge a success story similar to what he did as a player. Katsande was part of the Chiefs set-up for a decade, and he won multiple awards and titles.
In addition, the 39-year-old helped Chiefs win the PSLÂ title in the 2012/13 season. He also proved to be a vital cog when they accounted for the title in the 2014/15 season.
At an individual level, he was named the club’s Player’s Player of the Season after an impressive 2014/15 season. In that season, he was also voted as the Fans Player of the Season at the Soweto giant. It is without a doubt that the2014/15 campaign was the best season for Katsande.
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