DON’T write off Kaizer Chiefs just yet!
Amakhosi midfield star Willard Katsande, threw down the gauntlet yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s Absa Premiership clash with bottom side Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium (6pm).
The hard-tackling Zimbabwean international midfield strongman reckons Chiefs are not done yet and has promised to fight all the way to retain their title.
“The spirit is high and we are focused,” said Katsande in Naturena yesterday.
“We still have 13 games to play and a lot can still happen. But we must look for more consistency. We have wasted points with too many draws in the first round.”
Amakhosi are fourth – 10 points adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns
Katsande is in top form, having won two back-to-back Man of the Match awards, in the 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates and for helping Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 2-0.
But the modest Katsande stated: “While it’s nice to win awards, it’s a collective team effort. My teammates helped me. I would rather Chiefs have the points than awards.”
Katsande, who has often run afoul of referees, said he did not believe he was being unfairly targeted by officials: “Refs have a job to do and we have ours. I would not like to comment or tell them how to do theirs.”
Katsande said he had matured and that was due to the support from his teammates and technical staff: “I have also been watching and learning a lot from European players who play in a defensive midfield role.”
Katsande warned his teammates not to take lightly the Team of Choice, who are bottom of the table with eight points: “They are fighting for their survival.
“We will treat them the same as we would Pirates or Sundowns. I have never had an easy games since I joined Chiefs!
“We know we have to collect three points against Maritzburg.”
Katsande, who has scored three goals this season, added: “It’s the modern trend that defensive midfielders should score.”
