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Ray Bande Mutare Bureau
FORMER Warriors captain Willard Katsande will tonight play his 200th match for Kaizer Chiefs when the Amakhosi take on Cape Town City in an ABSA Premiership encounter in which Steve Khompela’s team will be searching for their first win this season. The match will be at the Cape Town Stadium and starts at 19:30pm.

While Katsande might still be far from attaining the 370 appearances for Kaizer Chiefs achieved by the legendary Doctor Khumalo, the former CPMZ Mutare player is steadily closing in on countryman Tinashe “Father’’ Nengomasha’s tally of 311 matches for the Soweto giants.

Katsande, who quit international football after this years’ Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, opened his account for the South African powerhouse back in 2011, when he featured in an MTN final match against old rivals Orlando Pirates.

Katsande told The Herald from his Naturena base that he still has the hunger to achieve more.

“I still have the hunger to achieve more, win more trophies, and play many more matches for Kaizer Chiefs. I feel I can do it and there is really nothing to stop me if God allows it.

“I am happy with what I have achieved so far, but the sky is the limit. I will not sit on my laurels and just celebrate what I have achieved so far, but instead I will keep working hard to achieve more,” he said.

In his 193 starts plus seven matches that he came in as a substitute, the gritty former Highway defensive midfielder has won every other silverware on offer in the South African Premiership, including the 2012-2014, 2014-2015 league titles, the 2013 Nedbank Cup, the 2011 Telkom Knockout and the 2014 MTN Cup.

Meanwhile, media reports from South Africa indicate that a makeshift Kaizer Chiefs defence will be put to the test against the in-form Cape Town City in the Mother City.

New signing and Warriors player Teenage Hadebe is still not available and is only expected to start training in about eight weeks’ time.

Amakhosi coach Komphela has been forced to make changes to almost his entire back four, due to the injuries suffered by Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Tsepo Masilela, as well as the suspension of struggling Mulomowandau Mathoho.

Mphahlele has been ruled out of action for four months with a knee injury he sustained while on international duty with Bafana Bafana and Masilela will be on the sidelines for three months with an ankle problem.

Mphahlele and Masilela are key components in the Amakhosi backline and will be missed in the coming months.

Kgotso Moleko, who has never been able to cement his place in the starting line-up, is available to play in Mphahlele’s place while former Maritzburg United man Philani Zulu looks set to start at left back.

Mathoho was sent off in the 1-2 defeat to SuperSport United.

This leaves Daniel Cardoso and Lorenzo Gordinho as Komphela’s choices in central defence.

These two players will have to keep a close eye on City’s dangerous attack, made up of the hard-running Lehlohonolo Majoro, Ayanda Patosi and Sibusiso Masina