Katsande challenge leaves former Orlando Pirates captain Lekgwathi stretchered off in legends clash

Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi had to be taken off on a stretcher after a heavy challenge from Kaizer Chiefs great Willard Katsande during a legends match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The incident occurred on Sunday when Chiefs Legends faced Jozi Masters in a curtain-raiser ahead of the 2026 Toyota Cup fixture between Kaizer Chiefs’ senior side and Zimbabwean club Scottland FC.

Katsande, lining up for the Chiefs Legends, was involved in a duel with Lekgwathi in which he appeared to catch the former defender on the knee with his studs, leaving the ex-Pirates skipper in visible distress.

Lekgwathi, who captained Orlando Pirates during a highly successful period in the club’s history, was unable to continue and was carried from the field by medics, bringing his participation in the exhibition game to an abrupt and painful end.

Photographs taken by Enk Sports and shared on social media showed the moment of contact and its aftermath, with Lekgwathi grimacing and clutching his leg as medical staff attended to him.

Katsande’s combative style resurfaces

Katsande, a dominant presence in Kaizer Chiefs’ midfield for a decade at Naturena, built his reputation on tough tackling and physical commitment, traits that appeared to resurface in this friendly outing.

The former Amakhosi midfielder, who was widely regarded as one of the Premier Soccer League’s most uncompromising enforcers during his playing days, was a central figure for the Chiefs Legends in the exhibition fixture.

The challenge on Lekgwathi quickly drew attention online once Enk Sports’ images circulated, with the sequence of photographs highlighting the force of the contact and the immediate reaction from both players.

Social media reaction

Supporters reacting in the comments section of Enk Sports’ Facebook post largely responded with humour, with several fans joking that Katsande had stayed true to his on-field persona despite the match being a legends encounter rather than a competitive fixture.

Some users suggested that the former Kaizer Chiefs star would “never change”, referencing his long-standing image as a hard tackler who rarely pulled out of challenges, even in a friendly environment.

Precursor to Toyota Cup meeting

The legends match formed part of the build-up to the 2026 Toyota Cup clash, in which Kaizer Chiefs’ current first team were scheduled to face Scottland FC from Zimbabwe later in the day at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

The exhibition fixture between Chiefs Legends and Jozi Masters was designed to provide entertainment for supporters ahead of the main event, bringing together former stars from two of South Africa’s most famous clubs and the Johannesburg football scene.

While no further details were immediately released about the extent of Lekgwathi’s injury, the images of him leaving the pitch on a stretcher underlined the seriousness of the knock in what was intended to be a light-hearted occasion.