NAME: Willard Katsande.

CLUB: Kaizer Chiefs.

BORN: 15-01-86.

PLACE OF BIRTH: Mutoko District Hospital.

POSITION: Defensive midfielder.

NICKNAME: King Salt some call me Bute (snuff).

HOOD: I grew up in Sakubva, but moved to my house in town Darlington Extension.

HEIGHT: 1,78m.

WEIGHT: 82kgs.

PREFERRED FOOT: Right.

SHOE SIZE: Eight.

JERSEY NUMBER: @ KC (31), Warriors (14).

SCHOOLS ATTENDED: Dangare Primary and Sakubva 2 High

SCHOOL REPORT: I can’t say much. I wrote eight subjects. It’s personal (laughing)

LANGUAGES: Shona, English and Zulu.

RELIGION: Christian. Ndiri Madzibaba weChishanu.

FAVOURITE DISH: Sadza and beef stew

TEMPERS: I get annoyed easily.

FAVOURITE HOLIDAY RESORT: I wish to go to The Bahamas

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS: Humble, respectful and hardworking.

FLICKS: Sports and movies.

FAVOURITE COLOURS: Pink, purple and black.

TUNES: Sungura and Rhumba.

FAVOURITE ARTISTES: Alick Macheso and Fally Ipupa.

MOBILE HANDSET: Samsung Galaxy 7 Edge.

WHEELS: BMW 3 series.

MARITAL STATUS: I am married to Memory Dowerowe.

KIDS: Sharon (nine), Willard jnr (seven), Stacy (four) and Shanelle (two)

FAMILY: I am the last and only son in a family of seven. Two of my sisters passed away. My mum is in Mutare.

SOCIAL NETWORKS: I am not very active on social networks and I am restricted on what to post publicly.   @kingsalt (instagram) @willardkatsande (twitter). I have since deactivated my Facebook account because there was little value from it.

BOOZE: I have never tasted alcohol.

HAIRSTYLES: Ndogara ndine zuda hangu (Baldhead).

TATTOOS: I am a Christian. I donate blood. It’s not in my Christian values to do body art.

DO YOU WEAR EARRINGS? I find it unholy for men.

CLOTHING LABELS: Nike and Diesel.

PERFUME: Kenzo Power.

OTHER SPORTING ACTIVITIES: I play golf.

TELL US SOMETHING WE DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU: My mother wanted me to be a security guard when I finished school. My academic results were not that good.

YOU PLAY A BIT LIKE: Gennaro Ivan "Rino" Gattuso. I also like Xavi Alonso’s type of play.

 PRE-MATCH RITUAL: I pray.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN JUJU? That’s a nuisance. I don’t believe in it.

STRENGTHS: I am forceful and aggressive. I thrive on powerful play because my position is too dirty to tolerate anything. I can’t afford to make mistakes. I am good at passing and communicating with others player. I am 90-minute player and my work rate is consistent from the first minute to the last. Taking penalties and set pieces is not a big challenge and I can shoot from afar as well. Collecting rebounds and interceptions, headers and power play.

WEAKNESSES: I need to be more involved when going upfront. I must up my game offensively.

GABON 2017 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS FINALS: We are ready for it. It’s not a fluke that we qualified.

PREPARATIONS SO FAR: The energy at training is amazing. I am looking forward to it. We started well and it’s encouraging.

GROUP B: It’s a group of death and it’s undisputed. We are fighting against big nations who lifted the cup before. It’s a very crazy game.

MANY HAVE PREDICTED ZIMBABWE TO BOARD THE FIRST PLANE HOME: It’s a crazy game. They need to relax and watch out for us.

STARS IN GROUP B: They don’t play football. Yes they have big names but that’s no guarantee of a good game. Big names need a team. It is very true, Algeria has the reigning Footballer of the Year in England, Riyad Mahrez and another member of the championship winning Leicester team, Islam Slimani. Senegal too has many stars in the Barclays English Premiership. We are not intimidated.

UNDERDOGS TAG: No one is giving us a chance, it’s interesting. It’s the same manner in which they doomed us when we were drawn against Guinea, Swaziland and Malawi in the qualifiers. We are underdogs but not dull. The underdog tag is very helpful for Zimbabwe. Teams who are regarded weakest in a group can always surprise.

LOWEST RANKED NATION: Only Zimbabwe has the distinction of having failed to reach at least the quarterfinals in the history of the Cup, and by the way, at 109 in FIFA rankings. It’s a blessing in disguise. 

YOUR TIPS TO TEAM MATES: We need to put our differences aside and fight for each other. It’s crucial to be united. We won’t go anywhere if we don’t play as a team.

FIRST GAME IS AGAINST ALGERIA ON JANUARY 15: We have been studying their style and their games. We are ready.

YOUR PREDICTION: We can’t afford to lose. It’s going to be a slim win 1-0.

BUT MARVELOUS NAKAMBA IS SUSPENDED: He is a good player. We have an understanding. He is our playmaker and we will surely miss him. But I believe the coach is aware and he knows how to fill his void.

BEST WARRIOR PLAYED WITH: I like Kuda Mahachi. He is always available everytime I look up to pass. He creates space for himself and he is never afraid to take on opponents. He is a team player both defensively and offensively.

TARGETS FOR THE TOURNAMENT: It will be fascinating to reach the semi-finals.

BEST AFCON QUALIFIYING GAME: Every game has its memories but our away match to Guinea was eye opening. They thought it was going to be a thorough hiding for us but we proved everyone wrong by qualifying with a game to spare.

WARRIORS CAPTAINCY: It comes with huge responsibility knowing how to lead such high profile players in the squad.

MOST RESPECTED PLAYER: Costa Nhamoinesu is a cool guy. He is calm. One would assume that he is pompous since he is playing football at the highest level but it’s the other way round.

BIGGEST JOKER IN CAMP: Mahachi can be naughty.

FAVOURITE TEAMMATE: Onismor Bhasera, wekumusha.

KALISTO PASUWA: He is a great coach and I believe in him. He is a record breaking coach.

TEAMS SUPPORTED: Highlanders, Kaizer Chiefs, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

HOW DID YOUR CAREER START? It was a humble start. I never had enough resources but I was identified at High school by a Division Two coach Stephen Mahere who took me to Frontier Club. I then joined Highway in 2006 and within two seasons, I moved to Gunners. After winning the league, Ajax Cape Town came for my signature.

CHILDHOOD HERO: Ronald Sibanda.

MESSI OR RONALDO: CR7.

PREMIERSHIP DEBUT: In Zim Highway 2007 against Njube Sundowns. We won 1-0. In the ABSA Premiership:  2010 when I featured for Ajax Cape town.

FORMER CLUBS: Fronties Steel (D 2(2002) to D1 2003-6), Highway, Gunners, Ajax Cape Town.

LIFE AT CHIEFS: It’s a big club and run professionally. Your input and value must justify why you are playing for such a big team like Chiefs.

CONTRACTED UNTIL: June 2017.

ANY PLANS TO LEAVE SOON: They are working on it. I think I will sign a new deal after the AFCON campaign. They still need my services and I am still interested. I have a legacy to make. I can only leave KC for Europe.

 HOW ARE YOUR TEAMMATES TREATING YOU? We are family. I don’t have problems with anyone. Itumeleng Khune is my closest friend.

TIPS FOR THE 2016/17 CHAMPIONSHIP: It to open to all top fine teams. The clubs have been inconsistent

BEST STADIUM: Green point in Cape Town.

GAMES PLAYED: I have played all games and every minute of action.

GOALS SCORED:  Two.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF? Rats.

NAME ONE THING YOU’D NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT? I don’t leave my phone.

WHAT DO YOU FOCUS ON WHEN IN THE GAME? I always have interest in studying the history of our opponent and just grabbing the best possible information about them.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO MOTIVATE YOUR TEAMMATES AFTER GIVING UP A GOAL? I believe in being positive.

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND IN THE TUNNEL ON YOUR WAY TO THE PITCH? Leading a team that grinds positive results.

RED CARD: I last got one in 2012. However, it’s part of the game.

BEST COACHES WORKED WITH: Stephen Mahere who identified me from High School to start playing competitive football. I have worked with Stuart Baxter among other good coaches.

INTERNATIONAL CAPS: 30 senior caps.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS TIME? I will be playing at the highest level.

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL: I want to be a football agent and I am working on the papers. I have been learning a lot from the current football administrators.

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