After Zimbabwe’s disappointing 2025 AFCON campaign, former Kaizer Chiefs captain Willard Katsande wants to be part of the set-up to turn things around and lift The Warriors up.
Katsande is stopping at nothing as he seeks to break into coaching, particularly with the Zimbabwe flagship team, The Warriors.
The 39-year-old has been vocal about The Warriors’ performances, especially their loss to Bafana Bafana in Morocco. While developing junior talent, Katsande’s eyes remain on the Zimbabwe national team.
WHAT WILLARD KATSANDE SAID
He is convinced the Under-17 and U-20 teams are the perfect starting point, while he works on his CAF coaching badges – he currently holds the CAF C.
“My aim is the national team. If I can coach the youth Zimbabwe national teams, I’ll be here. That’ll be a good starting point for me. I believe in what I need to contribute towards the national team. I know how much it means to us Zimbabwean people,” Katsande said.
“So my duty now is to continuously get my badges together and keep learning as each day passes – what’s evolving in football, how we can improve our methods, deal with egos, modern tech in football, and all these social factors.
“I still need to see how best I can do. I’m still doing my badges to see if I can help. Maybe start with the youth, national youth, U-17, U-20 – I think I’m ready. The senior team, it’s a process; maybe I’ll go there as an assistant, try to help and see what we do. But yeah, with time, it’s a process for everyone.”
KATSANDE LOBBYING FOR MERIT-BASED APPOINTMENTS
Katsande emphasized that merit-based selection of players and coaches is crucial to turning things around.
“It’s not only me, it’s about everybody in the country, in the set-up. Are they buying into the long-term project? The support, the scouting, everything. Can we choose via merit? All those things are very, very key in order for us to have a good and dominant national team,” he added.
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