BY Obakeng Rachwene and Kickoff.com

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande says it will be a tough act for him to live up to comparisons with veteran Tinashe Nengomasha. 

The Zimbabwean has replaced his countryman in Amakhosi’s midfield in recent weeks, leading many to question whether ‘The General’s’ time at the club has come to an end.

But Katsande, who started this weekend’s Nedbank Cup defeat to Free State Stars, insists Nengomasha still has a big role to play.

“I don’t feel I am here to replace Tinashe. You know back home in Zimbabwe, we normally play together,” he tells KickOff.com.

“The good thing is that people are comparing me to Tinashe, eish, it is a big challenge because Tinashe is great player. If people say that I am similar to him it makes me really happy. It is a great honour.” 

And if he is in the process of replacing the established defensive midfielder, Katsande adds that his boots are big ones to fill.

“Tinashe’s shoes, eish, they are big – he is a great player and if you look at what he has achieved, he has done a lot. I will just try my best all the time,” the 26-year-old says.

While Nengomasha sits on the bench, Katsande is playing alongside Lucky Baloyi in the midfield and the Zimbabwean defensive midfielder admits he is enjoying his time.

“Lucky and I understand each other a lot, but we are still young and need to work hard to achieve our goals. We are always chatting about how to contain our opponents in the middle of the park, but I am happy to be playing regularly,” Katsande says.