Chiefs set to deploy hatchet man Katsande
KAIZER Chiefs’ game plan to neutralise Ajax Cape Town’s strengths in Saturday’s MTN8 final at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth appears to revolve around the tackling and aggression of combative central midfielder Willard Katsande.
The Zimbabwean strongman was rested in the 4-1 victory over SuperSport United at the weekend. Katsande was on three yellow cards and, because he is such a vital cog in the team’s overall defensive organisation, Chiefs decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Another yellow card and he would have missed the Cup final.
It’s a clear sign that, on Saturday, hatchet man Katsande will be deployed to lessen the impact of Ajax’s creative midfield sparks.
Ironically, it was Ajax who initially brought Zimbabwean Katsande to South Africa, signing him from Gunners FC in 2010. He never really featured much for the Cape side, though – and Chiefs took advantage by poaching the player and turning him into one of the best holding midfielders in the PSL.
Chiefs come off a moraleboosting victory over SuperSport – and the result and performance will certainly inject a measure of confidence going into the final against Ajax.
New Chiefs coach Steve Komphela has done a superb job since taking over from Stuart Baxter. And the 48-year-old former Bafana captain certainly had to earn his salary on Saturday. Down 1-0 to a very strong SuperSport team, Komphela needed all his motivational skill and tactical nous to inspire the Soweto side’s second half fight-back.
“We interpreted the match and came up with solutions,” said Komphela. “We needed more movement, so settled things down in the dressing- room, we changed our structure, and the team then applied itself in the second half… that made all the difference.”
Katsande, too, was all praise for the work done by Komphela this season. “He’s a good coach,” said Katsande. “He’s just followed on from Stuart Baxter last season… Steve’s strength is his motivation and his ability to get the best out of the squad.”
Meanwhile, George Lebese is quickly establishing himself as a player to watch. He netted two goals in the win over SuperSport to continue his magnificent start to the season – and, no doubt, he’ll be the goal-ace Komphela will rely on on Saturday.
“George (Lebese) has a good instinct for goal,” said Komphela.
“He just keeps scoring and, to get that from a wide player, is always a positive.”