Friends turn foes at Peter Mokaba

The towering George Chigova and the diminutive Khama Billiat make for an odd couple, but the pair’s friendship has proven to be everlasting.

However, for 90 minutes at Peter Mokaba Stadium tomorrow (3.30pm), the Harare-born duo will put their brotherhood aside as Polokwane City take on Kaizer Chiefs.

Football first brought Chigova, who stands at 1,96m, and the 1,7m-tall Billiat together some 11 years ago when they joined Aces Youth Academy while they were still at school at Lord Malvern high back home in Zimbabwe.

“Khama and I went to the same academy and school where we shared the same room, so we know each other very well,” Chigova said.

“It’s more than friendship, we are like brothers. There is nothing that we don’t know about each other. Whenever we have some free time I go to his house or he comes to mine.

“Obviously, I know he is a dangerous player but I am confident that we will do well against them (Chiefs).”

City held Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw midweek in Pretoria in a performance that has revived the team’s confidence after a slump.

While Chigova is the firstchoice keeper at City, Chiefs have had a goalkeeping crisis that forced them to scramble to sign Daniel Akpeyi from Chippa United in January.

Chigova understands that being a goalkeeper is a thankless job: “It’s not easy you know, because one mistake and you take all the blame. I think Chiefs have good goalkeepers and sometimes a person can just be unlucky. But we will not be going into the game thinking that we will just score against their keeper.”