adminAfter an indifferent season for the Urban Warriors in which they battled against relegation, Billiat and Rusike could be on the move from the Cape Town side but the immediate destinations for the Zimbabwean pair is not yet clear.
Warriors wingers Billiat and Rusike have been at Ajax having joined the youthful side from CAPS United but it is not yet immediately clear too whether they will continue with their combination at in Cape Town or could be parting ways before the start of the 2013-14 season.
This is because Billiat has attracted a huge interest from South Africa Big Three — Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns — while Rusike has been patiently pursing a move to the Belgian top flight league.
Billiat still has one on his Ajax Cape Town contract while Rusike’s ideal with the Urban Warriors expired at the close of the season.
The pair’s manager Edzai Kasinauyo, himself a former Ajax Cape Town midfielder, yesterday declined to discuss much on their future arguing that it is “it is premature to say much at the moment because some discussions are still going on’’.
“At the moment everyone is going away for the off-season break but the picture will become clearer in a few weeks’ time when the club looks at what’s there on the table and makes decisions. Khama is still an Ajax player and Tafadzwa’s contract has expired but Ajax have the first option on him and that‘s why I am saying at the moment it is a bit premature to say which is their next clubs but all the parties will be talking and we should have a firm position in a couple of weeks,’’ Kasinauyo said.
Although Billiat and Rusike’s management team are not saying much at the moment, it has emerged that Ajax Cape Town could face a tough time trying to shake off the growing interest in the former.
Earlier this month Ajax Cape Town put up a R10 million price tag on Billiat but that seemingly deterrent figure has done little to dissuade their rivals from pressing for the former Aces Youth Academy forward’s signature.
Sources close to the goings-on at the Urban Warriors said although the Ajax Cape Town management had indicated that they would be open to discussions on offers for Billiat they had not made a firm decision on the player.
“Ajax have not decided really whether they want him to stay or go although they have indicated that they would want to extend his contract.
“But Pirates Chiefs and Sundowns have joined in the race to get the player and there is the off-season to get everything sorted out and see who is making a firm bid and who is not,’’ the source said.
Rusike tried unsuccessfully to move to Belgium but the winger has not given up hope of securing a deal on his second attempt for a flirtation with the Jupiler where such players like Ovidy Karuru and Vusa Nyoni are plying their trade.
“Fire’s (Rusike) contract has expired but Ajax retain the first option on the player and it will be up to them to decide on an extension or to let him go so he might stay in Cape Town, join any of the other Premiership teams or better still move to Europe in line with his ambitions,’’ the source also said.
It is however, believed that Sundowns, who earlier this week sealed a deal to bring another Zimbabwean international Cuthbert Malajila to the Brazilians, are leading the race for Billiat’s signature.
Malajila appears to have also been brought in as a direct replacement for fellow Warriors international Nyasha Mushekwi whose handlers had indicated that they want the former CAPS United hitman to try his luck in Germany or Belgium.
There are reports too linking Mushekwi to a swap deal in which the Zimbabwean could be transferred to SuperSport United while the Brazilians get Kermit Erasmus.
Online Reporter