Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande is building his career in coaching and has revealed the principles guiding his approach, while acknowledging the mentors who continue to support his development.

Among those influencing the former Zimbabwe international is Stuart Baxter, the coach who led Amakhosi to their last two league titles, in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons. Katsande played under Baxter during his successful spell at Naturena and continues to seek advice from the experienced Englishman.

Katsande believes a strong defensive structure is essential to playing the kind of football he wants his teams to produce. For him, defending is not simply about preventing goals but also about creating the foundation for effective possession and attacking moves.

“My philosophy as a coach is, in order for us to do what we love, which is keeping possession, we need to go and get the ball. So, we’re talking about the whole structure, proper build-ups,” Katsande explained, according to KickOff.

He believes teams must defend with discipline to create opportunities to attack without leaving themselves exposed at the back. Establishing that balance is central to his approach as he continues learning the demands of management.

Baxter is not the only coach Katsande turns to for guidance. He also named former Kaizer Chiefs development coach Sundra Govender, Scottland coach Norman Mapeza and CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi among the people helping him grow in the profession.

“Of course, I still get guidance from him. I also still get guidance from Sundra Govender (former development coach at Chiefs), and locally, I always talk to Scottland coach Norman Mapeza and the coach of CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi,” Katsande said.

He added that these mentors remain important as he develops his coaching knowledge and builds his own identity in the game.

Katsande has already gained experience coaching in Zimbabwe as he works to establish himself on the sidelines. His transition from a respected defensive midfielder to a coach reflects his ambition to apply the lessons he learned throughout his playing career.

His time at Kaizer Chiefs under Baxter gave him first-hand experience of a successful team environment, and those lessons are now influencing his philosophy. As he continues developing, Katsande will be looking to combine the knowledge gained from his mentors with his own ideas to build a successful coaching career.

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