JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter believes Willard Katsande will be deserving of a role at the club beyond his playing days following the non-renewal of his contract.
Katsande
will not continue playing at Chiefs with his last appearance having come in the
CAF Champions League defeat to Al Ahly a fortnight ago.
The
Zimbabwean averaged 32 appearances per season through the 10 years that he
played for Amakhosi after arriving as a surprise signing from Ajax Cape Town.
Chiefs
have indicated their willingness to offer the 35-year-old a job within the club
structures subject to him being interested should he decide to hang his
boots.
“I am
sure Willard will still have a role with Kaizer Chiefs because he has been an
icon at the club, the same as the day that Itu [Khune] wants to hang up his
gloves,” Baxter told the media.
“I am
sure there will be a job for him because he is an icon at the club. Willard has
been a warrior for me. He has been a great player for me, and he has been one
of those players that can be an example to other South African players because
he has made himself into a player.
“Willard
played for me during my first stint here and he was a warrior wearing gold and
black. He was Chiefs. He became Chiefs through and through. Every player goes
through phases in his career and Itu sitting next to me has been through phases
and you adapt to those phases.
“He
was never the most talented player in the world. He wasn’t the most gifted
player in the world. Things didn’t come easy to Willard Katsande. He made sure
he learned the game. He made sure that he did what he was good at, and he made
a very good career.” – Kick Off