Warriors Are Going To Compete-Katsande

By Tafadzwa Mpofu

Former Zimbabwe national team captain Willard Katsande backs the Warriors ahead of their crunch clash against Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 35-year-old last represented the Warriors in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations against Tunisia, in a game where they lost 4-2.

Nonetheless, Katsande, who made a total of 27 appearances for his country, has also singled out Knowledge Musona and Tinotenda Kadewere—saying the team can count on them during the tournament.

The former club’s skipper says the Warriors are going to compete and not to add numbers, and is confident that they will shock the likes of Senegal despite having an unusual squad.

“We are here in South Africa, we are rallying behind them him to make us proud. I just want to give everything to them, everything the best, they must be something even to bring the cup home,” Katsande.

“We are here, we need to enjoy those young ones who are going to get the opportunity to play in AFCON and I wish them all the best.

“I talk to the team all the days, I am not physically there, but I’m still the team captain, I talk to everybody, I’m part and parcel of the group, let them take the flag going forward.

“For me there are clear points which are there by Senegal, which are three points we need. I am very, very confident.

“We have the captain, Knowledge Musona, we know that if you can give him a chance he can get goal, we have Tinotenda Kadewere who is the high of a player who in any given time he can hurt any defense.

“We have got Kudakwashe Mahachi Remember he played AFCON, he is more a season player, we know what he can offer, there’s a little of experience in Basera, but for me I’ll say we have Musona and Kadewere who are high-profile players who can actually making us believe we can win.

However, Katsande has admitted that it will not be an easy – looking at the teams in the group, but insisted that they have what it takes to give the challenge.

“The group will be tough, tough because if you could see Guinea have been doing well, you could see my Malawi they are not pushovers, they have been doing well,” he said.

“Senegal, one of the favorites of the tournament, and us Zimbabwe, we are not new there. We are also not just there to make a number because remember, you cannot qualify three times in a row and say we are going there just to make fun, no we are there as a nation to make our country proud.

“We are also going there not to add numbers, we are there to compete, and it’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be tough. But if you want to be the best, you have to swim with the sharks.”

Zimbabwe will start their campaigns against the Lions of Terenga on Monday, the 10th