Katsande, Ndoro win fans’ confidence in SA

By Fungai Muderere

Former Warriors’ gritty midfielder Willard Katsande and striker Tendai Ndoro have made the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates line-ups for the Carling Black Label Cup set for tomorrow at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

The Carling Black Label Cup is the curtain raiser to the South African 2017/2018 Premier Soccer League season.

The traditional season opener between the two Soweto Giants has already sold out and will be beamed live on SABC 1 and Supersport 4.

Katsande and Ndoro, who both represented the country at the 2017 African Cup of Nations finals held in Gabon early this year, will start for their clubs in what has been termed surprising line-ups.

Ndoro made it into the Pirates’ starting XI alongside Mpho Makola, Oupa Manyisa and Issa Sarr, among other regular first team players.

Besides former Warriors’ captain Katsande, Chiefs’ supporters also chose Gustavo Paez to lead the attack, as he continues to increase his stock amongst the Naturena faithful.

“I’m naturally happy for the two Zimbabwean players. Their clubs had indifferent campaigns in the past season and the fact that South African football lovers have shown faith in them means a lot. As a country, we have talented players that many football enthusiasts will always admire. No wonder, a couple of Zimbabwean players that include Prince Dube, Bukhosi Sibanda, Teenage Hadebe and Talent Chawapiwa recently sealed deals in South Africa,” said Warriors’ assistant coach Mandla Mpofu.

Dube signed a four-year deal with SuperSport United on Tuesday.

Sibanda joined National First Division side Ubuntu Cape Town, while Hadebe clinched a four-year contract at Kaizer Chiefs.

Chawapiwa sealed a move to new boys Baroka FC after stellar performances with the Warriors in this year’s edition of the Cosafa Castle Cup that they won for a record fifth time.

Fan participation doesn’t end with the selection of line-ups in the Carling Black Label Cup, as they will also be voting for the substitutions to be made in the 60th minute. The Chronicle