Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande praised his side for showing real character to grind out a positive result against Chippa United.
Amakhosi secured their fifth consecutive victory in the Absa Premiership after claiming a 2-0 victory over the Chili Boys at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Glamour Boys stretched their lead at the top of the Absa Premiership standings to seven points over second-place Mamelodi after 10 matches played in the league so far this season.
Katsande knew it would be a tight game but was proud to see his side overcome their slow start to the game and go on to win in the end.
‘We knew that it was going to be difficult, provided we had eight changes in the team. But we tried to find the balance, thank God the gamble worked and we managed to get the maximum points, of which is what we wanted. It’s not about playing good but it’s about grinding the results,’ Katsande told SuperSport TV after the match.
‘The boys showed character and everybody deserves this. We prepare the team during pre-season and I always say to the guys, as somebody who has walked this path, everybody is important to the team, the fixture are gonna come tight, just work hard and wait for your chance’.
‘Unlike to sit down and sulk by the time the chance comes you don’t perform so I think the guys listened to me very well. You couldn’t see that there’s no [Khama] Billiat, there’s no [Lebogang] Manyama, there’s no [Erick] Mathoho, job well done to the team!’
Katsande also revealed what he told Dumisani Zuma before kick-off and it paid dividend after the Amakhosi attacker bagged a brace to snatch all their points away from home.
‘I told him [Dumisani Zuma] before kickoff that, “We don’t have Khama, we don’t have Manyama, all the pressure is on you, you need to make us play, you’re gonna be our match-winner”, I’m sure if you can ask him he’ll tell you the same thing. You could see he stepped up in the big shoes and he delivered.’
Kaizer Chiefs will now turn their attention to their mouth-watering clash against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday with kick-off set for 3:30pm.
