Striker showing signs that his mind is elsewhere
With Kaizer Chiefs determined to gun for some silverware this season, it would be a blow to their ambitions if one of the PSL’s top forwards,
Khama Billiat, leaves in the current transfer window, closing tomorrow.
Chiefs are determined to hold on to Billiat to realise their ambition of winning trophies.
However, Amakhosi must be warned: never hold on to a despondent, dispirited and downhearted player.
My forewarning stems from the manner in which Billia played during their come from-behind 2-1 victory away to Cape Town City early this week. It’s unlike Billiat to commit such elementary mistakes like when Chiefs had a goal disallowed shortly after halftime because of his handball. And its not in the nature of the Zimbabwean international to have his efforts at goal grazing the goal posts. His mind is elsewhere.
Billiat is famed for his clinical finishing, and that is the very reason he is among the highest-earning players in the
country.
During this encounter, it was only towards the final whistle that he showed some sparks of his brilliance, but even then, nothing came of those moves.
No doubt Billiat, 28, is itching to return to Mamelodi Sundowns and maybe play in North Africa, the Middle East
or elsewhere and Chiefs have not totally ruled out that possibility.
Apart from Downs, other clubs said to be after his signature are Egypt’s Cairo-based Al Ahly and Morocco’s Casablanca-based Raja.
Insiders have revealed that he is an unhappy chappie at Naturena. Some have even gone to the extent of saying he approached the Brazilians about going back.
Even Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, due to his respect for the contract Billiat has with Chiefs, is loath to be forthright about both parties wanting to reunite. He has remained coy, preferring rather to play his cards close to his chest.
The star striker left Sundowns last season after his contract expired and signed a three-year contract with Amakhosi. He is in the second
season of the deal. Though Chiefs have every right to hold on to Billiat, just like Bidvest Wits did with Bafana Bafana captain and defender Thulani Hlatshwayo when Orlando Pirates made advances, once again a want away player is unlikely to give 100% or more.
While Billiat’s agent Mike Ngobeni has insisted more than once that his player is not leaving Chiefs in this transfer window, he has not ruled out the possibility of the move happening in the near future.
He is on record saying Billiat requested to stay for another season as he wants to win silverware with the Soweto Glamour Boys. And what about the third season?
A player’s morale and mindset is an important factor in how well he performs.
All I can say is that if the move might not happen in the next 24 hours, it is likely to transpire in the next transfer window in January or at the end of the season. As things stand, Billiat may just go through the motions this season because he wants to please Chiefs, a club paying his bills, then call it quits before the start of the next campaign.
By Xolile Mtshazo
