Mwaruwari challenges Billiat to win Golden Boot
DURBAN: EX Manchester City marksman, Benjani Mwaruwari, is challenging Kaizer Chiefs star forward, Khama Billiat, to scoop the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Golden Boot award.
Billiat joined Amakhosi with huge expectations from Mamelodi Sundowns in this transfer window period.
The Golden Boot is the only missing gong in Billiat’s list of individual awards in South Africa.
Mwaruwari, who made his name in England and South Africa, wants to see his compatriot clinching the Golden Boot award come the end of the season.
He was speaking with Independent Media in Hammarsdale in Durban where former Bafana Bafana skipper, Sibusiso Zuma, hosted a community event.
“Khama is a big player now. He is also coming from a big club, Sundowns. He has won everything in Africa. Khama has won the league, Champions League and the Player of the Year. It is all up to him now to deliver. What I want to see from him is more goals. The only thing that is left for him to achieve in South Africa is to win the top goalscorer award,” the former Footballer of the Season said.
Billiat is yet to open his account in league matches this season. He has featured in all four outings for Amakhosi.
The Zimbabwean international dominated the Absa Premiership in 2015/16. He was crowned the Midfielder of the Season, Player’s Player of the Season and the Footballer of the Season. This is after his stellar displays which led Sundowns to their Premiership triumph.
“If I find time and meet him, I will keep on reminding him about that top scorer award. I will keep on pushing and reminding him to work hard to win that top goalscorer. If he can get it, he will be done in South Africa,” Mwaruwari added.
MTN8 is another crown that is missing in Billiat’s trophy laden career. He will be hoping to add that this season.
Chiefs are pitted against SuperSport United in the semi-finals of the MTN8. They will visit SuperSport on Sunday in the first leg and welcome them at FNB Stadium on September 1 in the return leg.
During his tenure with Sundowns, Billiat captured three league titles, the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout, Caf Super Cup and the Caf Champions League.
As much as Mwaruwari would have loved to see Billiat moving to Europe, he is not disappointed to see him still in SA.
Mwaruwari spent six years playing in England for clubs like Manchester City, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.
“You need to go outside and learn more in football. We don’t know what triggered him to go and sign for Chiefs. I would have liked to see him go and play overseas. He is a very good player. All we can do is support him while he is here. We must make him to shine all the time, “he explained.
Strikers have struggled to go past the 15-goal mark in the last six years in the PSL. Siyabonga Nomvethe was the last forward to net more than 15 PSL strikes.
He netted 20 in 2011/12, when he was at Moroka Swallows. Since then, the numbers have dropped rapidly. Lack of proper service is the reason for the low number of goals by individual players in the PSL.
Mwaruwari explained: “Yes we’ve struggled with goals in South African league over the last few seasons. I hear a lot of people talking about strikers. As a striker myself I know how difficult it is to be a striker here. The problem is that we don’t have enough midfielders who are providing quality service. You will find that the striker will find one chance in the whole 90 minutes in some matches.
“When I was playing in the PSL during my first spell, I would get seven chances. If we want to see goals from strikers feed them with quality balls.”
Mwaruwari had two spells in the PSL. He played three seasons for Jomo Cosmos before moving to Europe in 2001.
In 2012, he made a return to Mzansi, representing Chippa United and Bidvest Wits. Mwaruwari called it quits in 2014.