Billiat steps into Teenage’s shoes
Matthew Rusike, Edmore Chirambadare, Mitchel Katsvairo, Abbas Amidu, Lincoln Zvasiya, Kingston Nkhatha, Zhaimu Jambo - playing for the club in recent years.
Tinashe Nengomasha, Onismor Bhasera, Teenage Hadebe, Robson Muchichwa,Mike Maringa, Liberty Masunda, Cleopas Dlodlo, Luke Petros, Kelvin Mushangazhike, Claudius Zviripayi are also the other Zimbabwean footballers who have had a flirtation with Chiefs.
Today, all the focus is on Khama Billiat, the diminutive forward who forced Chiefs to break the bank and sign him in a record transfer deal for the club after the Amakhosi beat a number of suitors, including some from Europe, who wanted to secure his services. Billiat has also chosen the number 11 jersey, which Musona used to wear at Chiefs, and which was turned into an iconic shirt by Dladla.He was named man-of-the-match by the fans in his first Chiefs match against his former club, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup showdown at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg last Saturday, which the Amakhosi lost 1-2 before 40 000 fans.
“Nkosi for life, thank you, you guys are wonderful,’’ said Billiat in a video that was posted on his Twitter page after he was handed his man-of-the-match award.
“We know we disappointed you today, but we are looking forward to the future.’’
Billiat has also opened up on his decision to move to Chiefs and follow in the footsteps of a number of his countrymen who have donned the iconic gold-and-black colours of the Amakhosi.
That decision has divided the Zimbabwean football community given that many fans expected him to move to Europe where they argued his game would be improved through interaction with better coaches and playing against tougher opposition. Those who have been criticising his move to remain in South Africa argue that Super Diski provides Billiat, who is a key member of the Warriors, with the comfort zone and he doesn’t haven’t to push himself to explore his talent and take his game to another level, the way he would possibly have done in Europe.
That his former Sundowns teammate