Billiat poised to bow out in style
SOUTH Africa’s two Pro14 coaches have given the Europe-based competition the thumbs-up and encouraged rugby bosses to consider getting more teams involved in future.
The Cheetahs and Kings have just completed their first stint in the competition, which previously included teams from only Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy.
The inclusion of the two South Africa sides has been widely hailed, with the Cheetahs especially doing well – they finished third in conference A with 12 wins from 21 matches – while the Kings struggled to just one win in conference B.
However, both Rory Duncan of the Cheetahs and Deon Davids of the Kings said they, and the players, had enjoyed the competition. “It’s been brilliant,” said Cheetahs boss Duncan.
“It’s a great competition and the players were excited about visiting new places on a regular basis and facing different players each weekend. It would be great to see more SA teams in the competition.”
Davids added: “It was a fantastic experience for all of us. There were plenty of firsts for a lot of the squad members, like visiting new towns and cities, and experiencing different cultures and styles of rugby. It was very enjoyable.”
The Kings boss further stated it would be good if more South African players featured in the Pro14. “It is a high-quality competition and because you’re up against different players and teams from so many different countries, you’re learning all the time.
“The styles and mindsets you go up against are always changing and different and that teaches the players to adapt and learn quickly. The pressures each and every match are different ... and that can only be a benefit to the players.”
There has been talk in recent days of more SA teams joining the Cheetahs and Kings in the more lucrative, travel-friendly and time-zone-friendly Northern hemisphere from 2020, when the current Super Rugby deals are renegotiated and come into force, but these have been denied as just rumours and speculation by numerous rugby bosses involved in SA Super Rugby franchises.
It would, however, seem to be an option that is certainly on the table.
Duncan said there were few negatives playing in the Pro14.
“From a travel perspective it was a lot easier (than in Super Rugby), and that’s a big plus. Sure, you travel more often, but the trips are shorter, and it’s quality opposition each week, in trying conditions. My players have grown and matured quite a lot.
“The only tough part was the weather at times ... and going from a hot Free State summer to the cold of Europe. It snowed, there was sleet, strong winds, icy temperatures, so there are those extremes to deal with.”
The Kings sadly battled throughout the nearly 10-month competition, but Davids felt his team’s and the Cheetahs’ late inclusion in Pro14 last year didn’t help. “We couldn’t properly prepare via a pre-season, and we weren’t able to build depth, and the injuries got to us in the end,” he said. “It’s a long, demanding competition, and if you’re going to be successful you need all your things in place, and you need a lot of players.”
Not too many rugby fans outside of the Eastern Cape and the Free State would have kept an eye on what the Kings and Cheetahs were up to each week – mainly because the competition ran throughout the “off season” of November, December and January and then while the more established Super Rugby competition was, and still is, ongoing.
Duncan though said he and his players never felt “left out” of the rugby programme in South Africa.“No, never. The competition though, and our participation in it, will gain more traction as it goes on. If more teams (from SA) were involved it might be appreciated more ... it’ll happen in time.” PITSO Mosimane hasn’t given up trying to convince Khama Billiat to stay even though this afternoon the Zimbabwean forward is likely to be playing his last league match for the Brazilians.
If Jingles can’t convince the 27-year-old to stay, he will still wish him well in his new adventure because he understands just how telling Billiat’s contribution has been at Sundowns in his five years since arriving at Chloorkop from Ajax Cape Town in 2013.
Billiat will bow out in style should this afternoon’s match against Bloemfontein Celtic at Dr Molemela Stadium be his last league game for Sundowns.
The Zimbabwean will lift the Absa Premiership trophy for the second time in his career. The winner’s medal he will get will join the Nedbank Cup, Telkom Knockout, Caf Champions League and Caf Super Cup winner’s medals he amassed with the Tshwane giants along with the Footballer of the Year award he received in 2016.
“We paid big money for him and everyone was saying how can you spend so much money on a 22-year-old? But if you look at the number of trophies we have won, he has been at the heart of that success – in fact leading us, then you appreciate and you accept that he might not be here (next season) but he gave us a lot during his time,” Mosimane said.
“If he stays, it’s a legacy that we are building. He has contributed so much in the last five years. We love him and he knows that the team loves him. But you know me, I won’t stop trying to change his mind because where there is life there is hope. I still believe that it’s possible. Anything is possible.”
This was a low-key season for Billiat according to his own high standards. His contribution nonetheless was immense, scoring eight goals in 16 matches in the league. Those goals were crucial, especially the two he scored against Bidvest Wits, the one against Platinum Stars in Phokeng and the magical one against Cape Town City which ended the Citizens’ dominance over the Brazilians while also eliminating the Cape side in the league race.
Billiat was this week named in Caf ’s Champions League Team of the Week from the opening round of matches in the group stage.
“This was like the first year when he joined us.” Mosimane said. “It was hectic with injuries. But injuries are part of football. You have to accept and understand that these things happen. But even with the injuries, whenever he is on the pitch – he really shows that I am important at the club, I am a good football player and I play with my heart when I am injury free. He helped us. He scores when he is there.”
What’s been remarkable about the situation is the professionalism from the club and the Zimbabwean despite reaching an impasse in the contract negotiations in January.
Even though it has been certain for some time that Billiat would go at the end of the season, as he didn’t sign an extension of the contract that ends in June which meant he could have signed a pre-contract in January, the club has consistently played him and he has delivered.
“We played Keagan Dolly until his last match,” Mosimane said. “We played Bongani Zungu until his last match. We’ll play Khama until his last match, why not? He’s been proper whenever he comes in. You saw him against Ajax, he wasn’t even fully fit but he came, scored and he contributed. I’d love to have a player like Khama again for the next three