More often than not we have seen Kenyan footballers’ fall from grace hog the headlines but those who hope to steer away from making news for the wrong reasons can borrow a leaf from former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande who owns a construction company and a clothing line.The 35-year-old who is at the twilight of his career has already commenced his transition into business and is well aware that sooner rather than later he will be forced to respect his age and call time to his illustrious career that has seen him skipper the Zimbabwe national team.The defensive midfielder who is known for building play from the back dipped into the usual construction industry back in 2017 when he started the Katsande and Partners company after he was inspired by the struggles of his early childhood.📍 Hazyview Nelspruit Kitchen installation almost doneAllow us to make your house a homeWhatsApp +27 (78) 640-3040@KatsandePrtnrs pic.twitter.com/myFFtWmRzH— Willard Katsande (@WillardKatsande) January 9, 2022 “I started the company in 2017; we’re into renovations, kitchen fitting, tiling, geysers. We are into construction. I know how I grew up; I don’t want my kids in that situation. I want them to go as far as varsity; I couldn’t go because there was no money at home,” said Katsande in an interview with Far Post.The midfielder who is currently in the books of Sekhukhune United had a treacherous journey to the top after he was forced to inherit the mantle from his father who passed away when he was just nine years of age and was forced to help his mother who was a vegetable vendor Mutoko, a town that lies 143km from Zimbabwe’s capital Harare. “Mom usually woke up at 5AM. She didn’t have shoes, and she would go to the market to buy vegetables to resell. I did help when I was younger.” he says.With Katsande finding an escape in football, occasionally abandoning his family to pursue his passion, his dreams were realised when he turned professional and started tending for his family where he is the only son.The midfield enforcer however admitted that he has had to deny himself the pleasures of life to make sure that he sets aside money for his investments. “I’ve had to cut off many things in my life to build my legacy, my company. You won’t see me hanging around in the mall because I need to invest my time into my business,” Former Zimbabwe National soccer team Captain and Boss Yá Mboká clothline CEO Willard Katsande visited our office today to strengthen the ties between the two brands.#TogetherWeCanMakeIt⚽ pic.twitter.com/zP5YD1bHmb— MAJESAACADEMY (@MAJESA17) January 4, 2022 “I’d be lying if I say I’ve enjoyed the money I’ve earned as a footballer because I’ve had to make so many sacrifices. I had to make sure there were funds to set up the company; I had to make sure my nieces and nephews went to university,” he says. The world of business has however not been plain sailing as he started a trucking business that failed to take off and was forced to abandon the project but he now trusts his able team to take of business when he is busy on the field. Katsande’s construction business came to the aid of former Orlando Pirates skipper Lucky Lekgwathi who faced a huge setback last year when his Grootman Restaurant in Soweto, South Africa was looted during the unrest back in July 2021.Despite being rivals on the pitch in one of the hotly contested matches in the continent, the Soweto Derby Katsande extended a helping hand to Lekgwathi to ensure his business regained its footing. Whilst watch our beloved warriors @online_zifa we also busy with production for our @MbokaClothing family pic.twitter.com/tCs5INaVTQ— Willard Katsande (@WillardKatsande) January 10, 2022 “After the looting, there was an initiative for South Africans to help me rebuild Grootman. I had to create a bank account where people could contribute money. The legend [Katsande] is one of the people who donated money. He then heard the news that we wanted to rebuild Grootman, and he offered to come and help. I’m so impressed; he’s done a good job,” said Lekgwati who retired seven years ago. During the pandemic, Katsande took time to launch his fashion line as he is synonymous with his impressive sense of fashion that he hopes to turn into a fortune. “I’m also into fashion. We have a clothing line. I love fashion. My dad loved fashion, and I can see it in his pictures. During lockdown, people started asking me to launch a clothing line, and we’ve done it,” adds the former Ajax Cape Town star.This goes to show that Kenyan footballers and across the world do not have to wait for their careers to come to an end in order to start focusing on life after football.
