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Willard Katsande

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
WARRIORS skipper Willard Katsande appears to have hit the right form at the right moment and believes his fondness of European soccer stars such as Yaya Toure and Xabi Alonso has been instrumental in shaping his career.

Katsande was named man-of-the-match for the second time in succession after leading his side Kaizer Chiefs to a 2-0 Absa South African Premiership win over Golden Arrows on Tuesday night.

The Warriors skipper was in fine form to follow up last Saturday’s performance against bitter rivals Orlando Pirates.

The former Gunners man told the South African media in the post-match interview that his play is greatly influenced by the European models of football.

“During my spare time I always watch European football. There are great players who are playing in my position like Xabi Alonso and Yaya Toure. I copy one or two and try to implement it in my game,” said Katsande.

“Like I said in the previous game, it all comes with experience and determination. The credit must go to the entire team who worked so hard,” said Katsande.

“It was a difficult game. The first half we dominated, the second half they threw everything at us to try and get a goal.

“We created chances out of pressure, we should have killed the game on one or two chances, but it’s a game of football. Thank God we managed to get the second goal.”

Katsande is one of Chiefs’ most consistent performers this season and this run should excite the Warriors technical department ahead of the resumption of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.

Most of the Zimbabweans playing in the South Africa Premiership had a good outing in the last week.

Attacking midfielder Khama Billiat was the leading light as he helped Mamelodi Sundowns crush Chippa United 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Billiat was on target again at the weekend when the Brazilians beat Maritzburg United 3-2. That match also saw former Hwange and Young Warriors marksman Evans Rusike grabbing his third goal for Maritzburg United while Supersport’s Kingstone Nkhata finally broke his barren spell in the league competition with a solitary strike which proved to be the winner against Free State Stars.

The other players like Belgium-based striker Knowledge Musona are also enjoying their game and will be hoping to maintain the form for the back-to-back fixtures against Swaziland late next month.