BY FORTUNE MBELE
FORMER Warriors captain and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande has warned Egyptian giants Al Ahly that profiles will count for nothing when the two teams square off in the Caf Champions League final on Saturday.
Chiefs take on the Pitso Mosimane-coached Al Ahly side, who are the defending champions at the Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco, but Katsande has warned the Egyptian giants that it’s not by chance that Amakhosi are in the final.
The former Warriors’ skipper told the media that they wanted to redeem themselves from the dismal 2020-2021 DStv Premier League performance by claiming the continental bragging rights.
He said whoever is hungrier in the Saturday showdown will prevail.
“It is not about big teams, but rather who wants it more on that day, so we are geared up and ready to rumble. We have sharpened our swords, pulled our sleeves up and we are ready to rumble. Coming from a difficult season, we want to redeem ourselves. We know how much we wanted to progress, we have wanted to do this before but we failed, and it was lessons learnt. This time it was a chance for us to progress and we kept on believing in ourselves and kept on focusing on our jobs,” Katsande said.
“We didn’t come this far by mistake or fluke. We are here because we deserve to be here and whoever wants it more on matchday is bound to get whatever they want. Obviously, they will come with complacency and try to undermine us but at the end of the day it is not about history but rather 90 minutes. If you want it more, you will get it. We have seen it in the Euros, how football has been changing,” he said.
His countryman at Kaizer Chiefs, Khama Billiat, who has been out of action since April owing to injury, is also upbeat. Billiat has, however, started training.
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The Warriors’ star won the Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016 under Mosimane.
“Right now, we are in the final and we are 90 minutes away from the biggest trophy that clubs in Africa would want to have. We remain down to earth‚ we maintain professionalism‚ we want to do the best as the coach wants us to do‚ from training‚ playing very well and we are working on one or two things that can make a difference during the game. It is looking good. You know‚ you would not have seen this coming‚ to be where we are right now and to be part of it‚ being in the final‚ I give credit to God,” Billiat told Sowetan.
Ahly are nine-time African champions and are into the 14th final.
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