Billiat bubbles ahead of CWC
TINKLER: IT’S NOTHING TO DO WITH PROVING ANYTHING
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Khama Billiat (below) describes the Fifa Club World Cup (CWC) in Japan as a “once-in a-lifetime” opportunity.
The Brazilians arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun yesterday and are set to play their opening game on Sunday in Osaka. Masandawana will play the winners of tomorrow’s play-off between Japan’s Kashima Antlers and New Zealand’s Auckland City.
The 26-year-old attacking wizard, who has been earmarked in recent months for a move to Europe, will look to impress the scouts in the global spectacle.
“Everyone is looking forward to being on top of their game. I believe that every game is an opportunity for you to go overseas, even locally because you will never know who is watching – if you are on top of your game, some people might get interested in you. It (the CWC) is an even bigger opportunity for us to bring our game and see what is going to happen after,” said Billiat.
“It is exciting, it is a great feeling, we need to know what we are going there to do, we need to be on top of our game and in the right state of mind. It is reality and we need to keep our heads down, not to go there and start panicking and looking like we have never played or won anything before. We just want to try and do what we have been doing and not get carried away just because it is a bigger tournament.”
After the CWC, Billiat will be representing Zimbabwe in the Afcon in January – a tournament which his country last participated in when he was a 16-year-old.
“I have been waiting for this moment and it is getting closer. Am I ready? What more do I need to do? It is not going to be easy, in certain areas you need to work and improve. It doesn’t come twice. If you don’t use it or do your best, it will be a disadvantage to your career,” he added.
Eric Tinkler has played down the idea that he has something to prove, as he takes Cape Town City into Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final against SuperSport United.
Tinkler has worked wonders at City in their first season as an Absa Premiership club, with the side topping the league table and now with a chance of putting some silverware in their freshly-built cabinet.
The former Bafana midfielder missed out in two cup finals at the helm of Orlando Pirates last season, and ultimately the club did not extend his contract, but he has bounced back in the Mother City.
“It has nothing to do with proving anything, it is about wanting to be successful and win trophies,” said Tinkler yesterday.
“That is what it is all about. Unfortunately only one team can win a cup final and sometimes you are on the losing side, but it doesn’t take away from what you have achieved to get there.”
Tinkler’s Pirates lost to SuperSport in the Nedbank Cup final in May, and the City coach believes Matsatsantsa are now an even better outfit. Stuart Baxter’s side go into Saturday’s game in Polokwane on a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
“They are a very tough team, they are probably the in-form team right now and they will definitely be there or thereabouts for the league title,” added Tinkler.
“They have depth in their squad and Baxter has them playing the way he wants them to play. On transitional play they are always a threat and we will have to be at our best.”
City, however, are also in fantastic form, leading SuperSport by three points in the league and coming off a brilliant 3-2 win at Bidvest Wits on Friday night.
“We are going into this game with no fear of SuperSport, we are in good form, we are always a team that is very dangerous going forward,” said Tinkler, who did admit that there are defensive concerns.
“Particularly defending setpieces is something we need to get right and that is where some of our focus will be leading up to the game. SuperSport are always a threat from set-pieces with Morgan Gould, Clayton Daniels, Jeremy Brockie and Bradley Grobler.”
The City coach, meanwhile says he is flattered by Pirates fans asking for his return, after the Buccaneers’ own difficult start to the season.
“I have always only heard good things from Pirates fans out on the streets,” he said.
“It is good to hear what they have to say, but now my focus is on Cape Town City.”
City are still assessing an injury to striker Lehlohonolo Majoro that caused him to miss the Wits game, but otherwise Tinkler says his side have a full bill of health ahead of Saturday’s match.