SOUTH Africa: Kaizer Chiefs midfield strongman Willard Katsande insists he no longer has any emotions attached to playing against Ajax Cape Town regardless of his history with the coastal outfit.
Ajax was the first club that Katsande played for upon arriving in the country from neighbouring Zimbabwe six years ago. However, he only started four games in the season he spent there before landing a surprise dream move to Chiefs.
The Urban Warriors will be Amakhosi’s opponents on Saturday evening at Moses Mabhida Stadium (kick-off: 18h00).
“I always thank them (Ajax Cape Town) for giving me the breakthrough but I have been here for quite some so there are no emotions involved anymore. The only thing that I need to do is just my job with Kaizer Chiefs in the same way I do it in every game that I play,” declares Katsande.
The 30-year-old is aware of just how much of a threat his former club are going to be despite the fact that they are winless so far this season after four league games.
“Every team that we play against, even if they played badly in their previous game whenever they play us they always bring their A game. We are much aware and ready and the past results are helping us to be in a better position and be in a good mood mentally and physically. I think we are ready to play this one,” he says.
Chiefs are still uncertain if they will have Erick Mathoho back in the team for the game. The defender headed home to Limpopo to attend to a family bereavement straight after Bafana Bafana touched down in Johannesburg on Monday following a World Cup qualifier in Burkina Faso.
Mathoho is yet to train this week and with Ajax coming with the aerial threat of Nathan Paulse – Chiefs will have to devise other means of neutralising the physical forward.
“We have been working on our game plan and the coach has been telling us what to expect and what to do and the guys are responding very well to his tactics. Whoever is going to get the chance to play at the weekend is capable of delivering the results. Ajax is a strong team and we must give them the respect that they deserve but at the same time we will be playing at home and so we need to give it our best shot,” notes Katsande.Advertisement