DURBAN — Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande was happy to do his job as the “engine” of the team in their 1-0 MTN8 Final win over Orlando Pirates on Saturday evening.
The Zimbabwean was an outstanding performer in the middle of the park as he crunched into tackle after tackle and mopped up wherever necessary to ensure the Buccaneers could not get a foothold in midfield.
In combination with the in-form Reneilwe Letsholonyane, it was a joy to watch as Chiefs played more on the counterattack in the second half, with Katsande at the heart of many of their transitions.
Katsande, who has come on in leaps and bounds as the finest holding midfielder in the Absa Premier Soccer League since eradicating the yellow cards from his game, was level-headed after the match.
“First and foremost we need to thank God for this victory. It means a lot, as you can see. We managed to stick to the coach’s game plan. I think it was a good game, both sides wanted to win. Thank God we managed to win it,” he said.
“Coach always told me that I’m the engine of the team. I have to win every ball. I have to break down the opposition attacks so that we can attack so my job is to balance the team, to give cover to my back four as well as my forward players, to give them balance when they’re going forward.”
Kaizer Chiefs were crowned 2014 MTN8 champions when they defeated bitter rivals Orlando Pirates 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Tefu Mashamaite scored the only goal of the match in the first half as Amakhosi avenged the loss they suffered at the hands of the Buccaneers in the final of the same competition in 2011.
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Chiefs created the first opportunity of the match in the 10th minute when a cross from Tshepo Masilela found Mandla Masango in the centre of the box, but he rushed his volley straight at Senzo Meyiwa. — KickOff
