Willard Katsande is a Zimbabwean footballer who earns a salary of R200,000 and with a net worth estimated at $2 million (approx. R35,544,294.00).
Without any iota of doubt, Willard Katsande is one of the most talented and successful Zimbabwean footballers playing anywhere in the world. In the line of other stars such as Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona, Katsande has achieved much for his country, club, and himself, which is why he now has a net worth estimated at $2 million and earns a salary of R200,000.
At the twilight ages of his career, the 38-year-old plays in the Premier Soccer League for Kaizer Chiefs and the Zimbabwean national team. Katsande started his career playing for clubs in his home country, but as he continued to record more successes with each club, he made his way to the South African league, where he has been playing since 2010.
Profile of Willard Katsande
- Full name: Willard Katsande
- Place of Birth: Mutoko, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwean
- Date of birth:Â 15 January 1986
- Age: 38 years old
- Career: Footballer
- Salary: R200,000
- Net worth: $2 million
Early Life Of Willard Katsande Before His Success As A Footballer
In the small town of Mutoko in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe, Willard Katsande was born on 15 January 1986. His father was a football lover, so it was not surprising that he decided to name his son after the country’s legendary footballer, Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo.
Willard was only a boy of 9 years when his father died, but before then, the older Katsande had already instilled in his son the love for football and the discipline that would help him achieve greatness in the sport. He would take him to watch big games, which also increased his interest. He once stated that his father would be proud of all he has achieved as a footballer.
Following his father’s death, he was brought up as an only son with six sisters by his mother, Gladys Magorosi. 22 years after the death of his father, he also lost his mother in February 2018.
He Started His Playing Career In Zimbabwe
With a strong passion for football since he was a little child, the Zimbabwean midfielder got to start his senior career playing for Frontier Steel in 2002. Even though he was only 16 at the time, he established himself as one of the future greats after he recorded 56 goals in 36 appearances. He was with the club for three years before departing in 2005.
His next base was still in his home country of Zimbabwe, where he played for Feruka. He was there for only a season before moving to Highway F. C., where he played from 2007 to 2009, and then Gunners Football Club, also a Zim’ team, came for him. Willard was with Gunners for only a season again, and after this, he got the call to Ajax Cape Town, which changed the course of his career and gave him even more opportunities.
The Move Of Willard Katsande To South Africa And Successes Thereafter
In 2010, Willard Katsande made his first international move with the aforementioned transfer from Gunners to Ajax Cape Town. The South African club decided to sign him after making an impressive display at the CAF Champions League qualifiers. When the club signed him on a 3-year contract, he was a free agent.
However, after only a season, Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung saw his performance when he played for his country against Zambia and decided to sign him in 2011. Since then, he has continued to play for the club as a defensive midfielder, making him one of the oldest players on the team.
On the international scene, Willard Katsande had played for the Zimbabwean national team since 2010, when he made his professional debut for The Warriors. He was with the team until the 2017 Afcon tournament, when he played his last serious game for the team. Although he came close to returning in 2018, it did not yield anything impressive for the former captain of the squad.
He wore the country’s colors 22 times officially, and in the process, he netted 3 goals, which is rather impressive for a defensive midfielder.
Summary Of The Clubs He Has Played For and Goals He Scored
Looking at his entire career thus far, Willard Katsande has played for a total of 6 clubs as a professional football player both in the Zimbabwe league and in South Africa. Here are all the clubs he has played for and his achievements with each:
Frontier Steel, Feruka, and Highway
The earlier teams he played for include the Frontier Steel, Feruka, and Highway. These were in the earlier days of his career when the light was not so much shining on him. Nonetheless, he still registered some important records. He played for the Gunners from 2002 to 2005, and in the process, he was said to have appeared in 36 official games. He scored 56 goals.
Katsande’s period with Feruka was rather brief, having played from 2006 to 2007. However, it was a busy and productive one as he appeared in 30 games and scored 19 goals. His next stop, as stated, was with Highway United Football Club also in Zimbabwe. With the team, he made 60 appearances and netted 18 goals.
Gunners
In the 2008/2009 season, he signed for the Gunners FC, a Harare-based club for which he made 15 appearances, scoring 8 goals in the process. Katsande was instrumental in helping the club to win its first and only Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League title in 2009.
Ajax Cape Town
Even though, as stated, Ajax Cape Town marked a significant shift in his career, he only played 15 games for the club across all competitions, spending only a season out of the three years that he signed. He netted 2 goals for the club. His salary while playing for Ajax was not revealed. With the club, he made it to the finals of the 2010 Telkom Knockout.
Kaizer Chiefs
It is with the Chiefs that Willard recorded most of his successes as a football player. In 133 appearances for the club, he saw the back of the net 33 times. He was voted Soccer Laduma Reader’s Player of the season in 2014, while he was named the most improved player at the Kaizer Chiefs Player’s Awards in 2013.
Beyond his individual achievements, he has won some titles with the team, including the Premier Soccer League, which he won in 2013 and 2015, and the Nedbank Cup, which he also clinched with the team in 2013. He also won the MTN 8 in 2014. What he earned as a salary at the start of his career was not revealed, but we know that he currently earns R200,000 weekly.
How He Came About His Current Net Worth
The $2 million net worth of Willard is a culmination of his career as a footballer, his numerous endorsement deals, and other investments. Even though many sources claim he could be as rich as $5 million, there is nothing to support the claims, looking at his earnings through the years and all the financial dealings he has been involved in.
Needless to say, the money he has made from contracts, salaries, and bonuses have all gone to increase his net worth in a long way. His various individual awards have also come with monetary prizes. He was given R25,000 when he won the Player’s award in 2013. However, his numerous endorsement deals have also contributed in no small measure. The former Zambian skipper has had deals with brands that he has kept hidden.
Willard Katsande Spends His Money On Nice Clothes, Fast Cars, And A Good Home
While growing up following the death of his father, Willard Katsande didn’t have many clothes. He revealed that at a point, he wore a shirt for more than two years until it was finally torn. Today, he is a fashionista who spends big money on designer wears from Gucci to Givenchy and other international and local brands.
He is also a lover of great cars as his garage features several cars, including a BMW 318i, which price is put at over R600,000, and a silver BMW 320i, which is said to have cost R350,000. The football star has other cars, including a Range Rover and a Mercedes Benz, which cost almost R2 million.
Willard has a massive home in his home country and another in South Africa. Although he has provided a little snippet into his home in South Africa, which has a garden and a garage that can take multiple cars, other important features of the houses are not known.
