PSL’s ‘best player’
Amakhosi coach heaps praises on Khama Billiat
Khama Billiat at his optimum is the best player in South Africa‚ Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas has said.
Billiat showed more signs of his class with a strong secondhalf performance in Chiefs’ 3-0 MTN8 quarterfinal win against Free State Stars at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.
Chiefs’ new signing again combined for a goal deep in injury time‚ this time as the finisher‚ with his old Mamelodi Sundowns front partner Leonardo Castro‚ who was the provider.
Castro got his second goal in two games in the 48th minute.
The Colombian had headed in Billiat’s free-kick in Chiefs’ 3-1 Absa Premiership defeat by Bidvest Wits at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
Solinas was asked about the growing influence of the hugely promising Castro-Billiat combination at Amakhosi.
Solinas said: “For me‚ Billiat is amazing, a top player.
“In my opinion‚ with no disrespect to other players from other clubs‚ Billiat is the best player in the league, the best striker. Billiat, in my opinion, can play in Europe without a problem. This guy is not for this league.
“He could perform in Europe very well‚ comfortably.
“Billiat and Castro – it’s a privilege and an honour for me to coach them.
“And these players make the difference.
“I am very happy that I have these players in my squad.”
Billiat’s strike was his first for Amakhosi, having played three games.
Castro has scored twice in three games this season‚ having scored just three times in all competitions in his first six months for Amakhosi in the second half of last season after signing from Sundowns in January.
The pair formed part of the “CBD” trio at Downs – Castro‚ Billiat and Keagan Dolly – who were so influential in the Brazilians’ 2015/2016 league title.
Billiat was that season’s PSL Footballer and Player’s Player of the Season.
Meanwhile, Bidvest Wits winger Sifiso Myeni is out in the cold after it emerged that the Clever Boys did not register the tricky player this season.
Considering how quickly they recalled him when he was on loan at SuperSport United midway through last season‚ it comes as a shock that Myeni’s services are no longer needed.
The club’s new signings, like Deon Hotto and Mxolisi Macuphu, may have made an immediate impact at the Braamfontein outfit but some‚ like Myeni‚ have not been as fortunate.
Despite helping the club to a first league title in 96 years at the end of 2016/2017, players such as Ben Motshwari and Phumlani Ntshangase were surplus to requirements after the arrival of the likes of Steven Pienaar. –
‘In my opinion‚ with no disrespect to other players from other clubs‚ Billiat is the best player in the league. He . . . can play in Europe without a problem. This guy is not for this league’ Giovanni Solinas
KAIZER CHIEFS COACH