Billiat turns on the magic

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
JUST like he vowed at the turn of the year, Warriors hotshot Khama Billiat is living his dream and has struck rich form at a crucial stage to emerge as one of the driving forces in Mamelodi Sundowns’ chase for South African and continental soccer glory.

Billiat suffered the misfortune of having to watch Sundowns overturn a 15-point deficit to pip rivals Kaizer Chiefs for the ABSA championship title having incurred a long-term injury last season.

But when he recovered the talented Zimbabwean winger vowed to help make a difference for the Brazilians and the former Ajax Cape Town player has been enjoying some of his best football since the turn of the year.

Billiat has struck seven ABSA Premiership goals to date, just three shy of fellow Zimbabwean international and teammate Cuthbert Malajila, who leads the charts with 10.

He also scored the only goal when Sundowns edged TP Mazembe 1-0 in a Champions League tie in Pretoria and left the Brazilians with some hope of finishing the job in Lubumbashi next weekend.

Sundown’s have also narrowed Kaizer Chiefs’ lead at the top to eight points and could further reduce it to five should they win the game that they have in hand over the log leaders.

While Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has tipped Malajila to win the Golden Boot Award, it is Khama, who has been driving the Brazilians with his silky skills and has also been weighing in with goals in the Champions League and local cup competitions.

On Sunday, Billiat was in fine form again turning a man-of-the-match show which he spiced up by grabbing Sundowns’ second goal in their 3-1 triumph over Platinum Stars in the Nedbank Cup.

Crucially for Billiat and his club’s merry band of supporters, the Brazilians are the only giants from South Africa’s “Big Three’’ — Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns — to survive elimination from the Nedbank Cup tournament.

Despite winning the Man-of-the-Match award Billiat was quick to praise his entire team’s effort for the victory over their bogey opponents on Sunday afternoon.