How Kaizer Chiefs’ players are nursing Khama Billiat through this hard spell

22 August 2019 - 14:39 By Marc Strydom
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Kaizer Chiefs players from left to right: Siphelele Ntshangase, Khama Billiat, Lebogang Manyama and Andriamirado Dax Andrianarimanana. Dax has since left the club.
Kaizer Chiefs players from left to right: Siphelele Ntshangase, Khama Billiat, Lebogang Manyama and Andriamirado Dax Andrianarimanana. Dax has since left the club.
Image: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Khama Billiat’s Kaizer Chiefs teammates support him and make sure he remains positive while his career at Naturena remains up in the air‚ Amakhosi midfielder Lebogang Manyama has said.

Billiat continues to be a Chiefs player‚ showing up for training at their Village each day‚ as he did ahead of an Amakhosi media day at Naturena on Thursday.

But the continued uncertainty over whether the little Zimbabwean playmaking star will achieve his wish of returning to ex-club Mamelodi Sundowns has seen him apparently grounded from playing for now.

“Khama is a big boy and he’s one of the top players in the country. And whether he stays or leaves‚ probably next year he’ll have the same thing again‚” Manyama said.

“He’s been here‚ he’s been working hard. And we haven’t shown any emotion to any of that‚ or put any of our focus on that.

Kaizer Chiefs and Zimbabwe star forward Khama Billiat.
Kaizer Chiefs and Zimbabwe star forward Khama Billiat.
Image: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix

“He’s still here and we make sure that we support him in every way‚ and make sure that he stays positive in every thing that he does.

“And obviously [hoping] that he can come back and help the team.”

It seems unlikely Billiat’s exile from the first XI will end when Chiefs host SuperSport United in their Absa Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening (kickoff 6pm).

SuperSport come into the game having hit some strides in their last two matches‚ thumping Orlando Pirates 3-0 in Nelspruit in the league‚ then Bidvest Wits by the same score at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday in the MTN8 quarterfinals.

“It’s a big game against a very good team‚” Manyama said. “I think it’s one of those games where form doesn’t matter‚ because SuperSport are hard to beat with all the work they put in their training and how they play.

Lebogang Manyama has started the season in good form.
Lebogang Manyama has started the season in good form.
Image: Anesh Debiky

“They are a fighting team. And we know what to expect.

“There past two results don’t mean much to us‚ but to them it’s obviously a huge confidence boost.

"They played two of the best teams in the country‚ and they won convincingly.

“We’ve watched the clips and how they did it. And I think they’re going to come in a similar way against us to what they did against Pirates.”

Chiefs have had a decent start to 2019-20‚ winning both their PSL games – 3-2 away against Highlands Park‚ then 1-0 at “home” to Black Leopards in Durban.


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