Billiat mum on links to European teams

KHAMA Billiat’s notable ability to elude defenders has nothing on the Mamelodi Sundowns forward’s nimbleness shown in the face of dodging questions from the press on his future, and if he has plans to find a club in Europe.

The Zimbabwean, who cleaned up with the midfielder, player’s player, and footballer of the season prizes at the PSL awards ceremony on Monday night, has naturally been linked to clubs in Europe.

Billiat gives the genuine impression of being a player in two minds – whether to continue at a club where, at 25, he is now showing consistency after many promising seasons never quite materialised, or strike in Europe while the iron is still hot.

“I haven’t looked at it in that way. I’m going to go home, and I think I need a week [to think about that].

“I need to talk to the coach and talk to the club, do things in a proper way and see. I’m still a Mamelodi Sundowns player before anything happens.”

Asked about interest shown from clubs in France, where Lille and Monaco have been reported to be tracking him, Billiat said: “That would be good for me. But I don’t know, I’ll see.”

Sundowns have reportedly exercised their option to extend Billiat’s contract to the end of the 2016-2017 season, so clubs interested in the player will have to cough up a sizeable transfer fee. If he genuinely is reluctant to leave Chloorkop, a big part of the reason might be the relationship Billiat has established with Downs coach Pitso Mosimane.

The midfielder transformed from an injury-prone, lightweight attacker who showed flashes of brilliance to consistently the most destructive forward in the PSL.

“[Mosimane] made me a better player mentally and more matured in the game,” Billiat said.