From Billiat
Star forward, team man resolute on delivering for Amakhosi fans
“It could be worse if I went into this game without people expecting something from me. From the day you join this club the expectations are high, even if you play a friendly game, you have to do something. We enjoy pressure, it is beautiful, and when you are successful, it is positive.”
In his first Soweto Derby last October 27, Billiat came close to becoming the hero that Chiefs’ supporters had longed for as he put his side ahead in the 15th minute only to be denied by strikes from Innocent Maela and Vincent Pule.
Today’s clash, though, will offer the 28-year-old attacker another go at achieving that milestone. “Everyone likes to score but at the end of the day the team comes first,” Billiat said. “But for me, I really enjoy assisting more than scoring. It makes me feel good.”
In the seven months Billiat has been at Chiefs, he’s done it all. He’s gone from being worshipped and publicly bowed to to an extent that one would think he’s the son of the king who’s on the jersey’s insignia, and to a player who’s found himself kicking his heels in the bench.
Chiefs’ first coach this season, Giovanni Solinas, was not shy of expressing his admiration for Billiat, even comparing his role to that of Lionel Messi’s at Barcelona.
However, it hasn’t been the same hospitality under Solinas’s successor Ernst Middendorp. Middendorp, who’s only been around for two months, has so far treated all his players equally – giving those on the fringes under his predecessor a chance to impress, while others seen as regulars dropped to the bench.
outplayed by Niger and Nigeria.
Amajita made an immediate impact as their front trio – Khanya Leshabela, Kobamelo Kodisang and Thabiso Monyane – threw everything at the Young Swallows’ defence.
Their bright start was rewarded as Monyane won them a penalty in the first 10 minutes of the game. Supersport United midfielder Luke le Roux stepped up and sent goalie Kukundo the wrong way.
Coach Thabo Senong’s troops didn’t drop their guard as they went in search of a second, but were either denied by Kukundo or the woodwork.
Not all was gloomy for the Burundians
Billiat remains adamant that everything is done to benefit the team as a whole: “We are not employed by luck because the club’s management have seen something special in each and every individual, and no one is better than the other; we are all important. When a player is injured someone else plays,and when a coach needs a different tactic then he puts another player in, not making the other look bad. We are one team.”
as they had chances to level the game but they fluffed those opportunities or were denied by another heroic goalkeeping from Khulekani Kubheka.
In the early stages of the second half, South Africa took their foot off the pedal but the opposition yet again failed to make their chances count. Amajita then came close to putting the game to bed later in the stanza only for Kukundo to produce an acrobatic save that denied a bullet header from Fezile Gcaba.
Amajita will now sleep better knowing they’ll join seven-time champions Nigeria, who topped the group, in the last four.