Billiat laments absence of fans
MIDFIELD STAR: IT’S GOING BE DIFFICULT FOR THE TEAM
Sibongiseni Gumbi
Footballers always try to impress with their skill, which leaves the spectators enthralled. So what happens when there are no spectators to watch? Ask Kaizer Chiefs’ sensational midfielder Khama Billiat and he will tell you it is very difficult to keep at it for 90 minutes with no one cheering you on.
Amakhosi will serve the last match of their supporters ban enforced by the Premier Soccer League’s Disciplinary Committee after riots that ensued after the defeat to Free State Stars in a Nedbank Cup semifinal at Moses Mabhida in Durban in April.
In the first match last month, the Glamour Boys could not get into gear and stuttered to a 1-0 defeat to Polokwane City and Billiat believes they learnt their lesson but admits it will be another match that requires extreme mental concentration when they host Chippa United at the same venue this evening – the match is set for a 6pm kick-off.
“It’s going be difficult for the team,” said Billiat. “It demands a lot of hard work. We need to be consistent. We lost in Durban when we didn’t have our supporters and I don’t think we want to go through that again. We will try to be mentally strong and make sure we give our best and grind out the result to make the supporters happy,” he added.
Coach Giovanni Solinas has always stated how the supporters carry his team and compel the players to give their best performances – but the fans will not be allowed in for this one.
“We know our fans in Durban always want to be there for us. We will give our best to make sure we win the game,” said Billiat.
The club’s fans will be happy to hear that the nimble-footed Zimbabwean is not regretting his move to the Naturena-based side as he had a number of suitors, some of whom dangled even bigger carrots.
“I feel good,” he said when asked about his stay so far. “This is the right place for me. It is where I always wanted to be. It is the place where I can achieve things. Being here keeps you on your toes and makes you work hard every day.”
Billiat has already contributed six goals to the Amakhosi cause this season – four in the Absa Premiership and two in the MTN8 – but he has endured a barren patch in the past few games.
“As long as the team wins it is not about any one person. This is a big club. We want the points and if we can score from a set-piece and win, then so be it,” he said.