Billiat is special

Sports Reporters
MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes Khama Billiat’s football talent is something special and the Brazilians have a responsibility to help him scale the heights of greatness that his budding career promises.The 23-year-old Zimbabwe international forward, who joined Sundowns during the off-season in what is widely regarded as the biggest transfer deal between South African clubs worth around R9 million, turned on a man-of-the-match display in the 2-1 win over Bidvest Wits on Saturday evening.

Billiat has settled in quickly, in the star-studded Sundowns line-up, and scored one goal and created the other to cap a stunning individual display in which his full range of skills were on exhibition.

The former Ajax Cape Town star created the first goal, which was scored by his skipper Alje Schut, and then drilled home what proved the winner in a tough match that featured two unbeaten teams in the South African Premiership.

Sundowns’ coach, Mosimane, who has also had a spell as the Bafana Bafana gaffer, said Billiat was a very special talent and the Brazilians should get the best out of him while also helping him become the superstar that his talent promises.

“You have to look at the chances he creates for us,” Mosimane told KickOff.com.
“He scored against Wits, he hit the post against Arrows and was also named man-of-the-match during that game.

“I think we need to get something out of this boy and help him to where he wants to be. This boy has got something and we wish him all the best.”
Last year, Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand hailed Billiat, after playing against him in a friendly pre-season match in Cape Town, praising his pace and very good ball control.

“If they are really youngsters, they have quite a few of really good players,” said Ferdinand in his post-match comments.
“Their two centre halves (Nazeer Allie and Matthew Booth) but their number 11 (Billiat) is their most exciting player for me.

“He is good when in position, good ball control and can use his speed really well, overall an exciting player.”
Billiat’s change of pace and trickery were all on full display on Saturday as the Zimbabwean forward once again imposed himself on his new paymasters and justified their decision to splash quite a fortune to secure his services.

The Brazilians are unbeaten in the league so far this season and Billiat, who celebrated widely after getting his goal, was happy to break his duck and believes this could turn into a very good season for himself and his club.

He said scoring the first goal was always going to be the key moment and he will now move into the next games with a spring in his step knowing that he is no longer under pressure to break his duck.

“Scoring has given me extra self-belief that I can do it over and over,” Billiat told the Daily Sun newspaper of South Africa.
“Scoring helps build confidence in front of goal and I hope this is the first of many goals for Sundowns this season.

“I will look back at this goal and say I can do it again and again.”
Billiat said he believes he made the right decision to leave Ajax Cape Town and move to Sundowns where he will always be under pressure to maintain very high standards.

He believes this could be a successful season for the Brazilians.
“Consistency and confidence is the key to us doing well. The spirit is good and the win over Wits has helped boost the players’ morale,” said Billiat.
“We’re a team, and play as a unit. Sundowns are not about individuals.

“We are gelling as a team and it’s good to be on top of the league, but I can improve and strive to get better with every game and in the end help Downs win some silverware this season.”

The Sundowns fans, too, seem to be warming up to their new star and they bombarded the club’s official website with messages saluting Billiat for his good performance against Wits.

“Well done once again, you did well and you deserved the man-of-the-match,” a fan who identified himself only as Stanley wrote on the club’s official website.

“I think you need to release the balls sometimes especially when we do counter attacks. I think if you had done that we could have killed the game (because) when Wits was attacking us you got plenty of balls that should have been good counter attacks but you kept the ball until the opponents took it away.”

Mosimane pleaded for patience from the Sundowns fans as he tries to build a team that can last the distance in the tough battles for the Super Diski title.

“Sundowns supporters are not easy to please. They want a win and they want a good win. Sometimes even Man United doesn’t get a good win, but a win is a win — even if it’s not good,” said Mosimane..

“They have to be patient. We are pushing, we are on course for now. It was one of the longest 45 minutes I’ve experienced . . . it was tough.
“We did what we had to do to win the game. I think we got our midfield right in the second half. What’s important is that we scored goals.

“We scored last week, we scored today . . .  we’re scoring and I told the guys that we have a team that’s capable of scoring, so we need to keep clean-sheets now.

“It’s not easy, but we got the result. We played against a very strong team and they have strong individuals.
“Last week against Ajax we opened the floodgates but today we had to do what we had to do.”

The victory puts the Brazilians in second position on the log on 11 points, level with SuperSport United — who lead the standings — but have a game in hand over their Pretoria rivals, leaving Mosimane pleased that Sundowns are in a position to take top honours in their next league outing.

“We’re keeping up with the big boys, we cannot fall behind and we need to keep in touch,” he said.
“I think we have the capacity to win the league, we’re scoring so it’s looking good.”