Chiefs midfielder closing in on Khune’s Soweto Derby record

Kaizer Chiefs midfield hardman Willard Katsande could feature in his 24th consecutive Soweto Derby if he turns out for the Naturena outfit this weekend, and the next one.

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Katsande, who joined the Glamour Boys from Ajax Cape Town in 2011, will be three derbies short of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune who stands at 27, since making his debut for Amakhosi in 2007.

The club’s current holder with most features in the spectacle is Siphiwe Tshabalala, but currently finds himself without a club since mutually terminating his contract with BB Erzurumspor in Turkey a few months ago.

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Virgil Vries, Itumeleng Khune and Willard Katsande sharing a laugh at Naturena Village. (Image: SowetanLIVE)

‘Shabba’ has 31 derbies to his name but could be overtaken by both Khune and Katsande in future.

The 33-year-old Zimbabwean emphasized the importance of playing in the biggest fixture on the local football calendar, insisting he’s not eyeing Shabba’s record.

“I can’t say I’m eyeing Shabba’s record of 31 [Derbies] because I’m just a poor boy coming from Zimbabwe and playing in these Derbies are so special to me,” said Katsande, as quoted by KickOff.com.

“I’m just enjoying these moments, which is to be part of these kinds of games. When I sit down after I’ve retired, I’ll tell my grandkids that I was part and parcel of these Soweto Derbies.”