Being one of the best midfielders in the PSL, Willard Katsande is regarded by many as one of the hardest players to bypass in the middle of the park. His presence alone strikes fear into opposing attackers and that’s besides the no-nonsense way he plays the game.

Orlando Pirates midfielder Oupa Manyisa has come up against "Salt and Vinegar" many times in the past couple of years and insisted Katsande is up there with some of the toughest players he has come up against.

"I have played against some tough midfielders and Katsande is hard to beat. He is a very strong player and his physical presence helps in holding up the ball and against opposition players. His main duty is to win balls against the opposition and I think he does that very well," Manyisa said.

"Whether he is rough or tough, he does it well for the team. He wins most of the midfield battles for Chiefs and that’s important in his position."

Platinum Stars midfielder Robert Ng’ambi reckons teams stand a better chance of hitting the back of the net against Chiefs if Katsande is broken down.

"You know each and every team has that one player who the coach builds the team around and, at Chiefs, Willard has fitted in very well in that position. He is the one who breaks down the opposition attack and makes sure that he starts his team’s moves going forward," Ng'ambi said. 

"It’s not an easy positon to play because you have to have that extra energy which I think Katsande has. He works hard for the team and once you break him down, you have many chances of scoring against Chiefs. He is the team’s backbone."

Do you think Katsande is the best defensive midfielder in the PSL?