Best way for Bucs to stop Billiat!

Khama Billiat is one for the big occasion and, despited this being his first fit Soweto S t Derby, do not expect him to be overawed. He has played in front of big crowd in the CAF Champions League during his time with Mamelodi Sundowns and they don’t come more hostile than in North Africa, where the Tshwane giants lifted the continental showpiece in 2016. The tricky player has also criss-crossed the continent with the Zimbabwean national team, who look on course to qualify for the 2019 AFCON after stunning the Democratic Republic of Congo with a 2-1 victory in Kinshasa and then drawing with the same opposition in the return fixture in Zim. It would be foolish and suicidal for Bucs defenders to leave Billiat unchecked or give him lots of space to wreak havoc. This is what the numbers have to say about him...

The Zimbabwean is likely to play as a striker in a 4- 4- 2 system, alongside Bernard Parker, with Leonardo Castro doubtful. In this position, he has very few defensive responsibilities. Orlando Pirates are likely to use three central defenders to try to have a spare man at the back against Kaizer Chiefs’ front two.

Key strengths

• High number of shots - 29 (most in the PSL) (Ntshangase has set up 9, Zuma 4, Parker 4)

• High number of shots on target - 11 (most in the PSL)

• Drawing fouls - 16 (seventh most in the PSL) - set pieces could be crucial for Chiefs, with Siyabonga Ngezana to aim for.

• Very dangerous in big spaces on counter-attacks, like he showed in their 4-1 routing of Cape Town City.

Weak areas

• He has had a drop in form in last two games as teams double-team him with no Castro to worry about.

• Zero defensive input, as he is now playing as a pure striker in 4-4-2. He may not be equipped to press Pirates defenders as they look to build up from the back.

• Highlands Park Owen da Gama summed up Billiat’s quality after their match against Amakhosi when he said, “We always had cover for probably the best player in South Africa, Khama Billiat."

• Polokwane City: very quiet match, just one shot on target and 0 dribbles as Polokwane sat off Chiefs and blocked passes into Billiat.

• Ntshangase with 9 assists for Billiat’s shots. The best way for Pirates to stop Billiat is to mark him tightly when Ntshangase has the ball.

Teammates

• Has created 20 shots for teammates this season in PSL. Only Jabu Maluleke (26) has created more.

• 20 shot assists: Castro 5, Parker 3, Cardoso 2, Zuma 2, Mathoho 1, Maluleka 1, Paez 1, Ekstein 2, Manyama 1, Ngezana 1, Mphahlele 1