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JOHANNESBURG. — Kaizer Chiefs attacker Khama Billiat has admitted age is catching up with him and he does not see the possibility of leaving the Soweto giants for another football club.
The 31-year-old Zimbabwean is enjoying what is arguably his best season in Amakhosi colours and that has sparked a transfer question.
Asked about his future, Billiat is refusing to look outside Chiefs, saying he wants to make the best of his time there.
Since arriving at Naturena in 2018, the Zimbabwean has struggled to reproduce the form he enjoyed at Mamelodi Sundowns.
But the arrival of Keagan Dolly at Chiefs has seen Billiat improving with some displays which promise to see him getting back to his former best.
“I just want to enjoy every moment. I just want to enjoy it. I know we are growing up as players and time moves fast but we just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing, right now,” Billiat told iDiski Times.
“We don’t want to look back regretting it, we won’t say I should have done this or that, I just want to win as many games and enjoy and enjoy my football (career) as much as I can.
“The rest is always . . . I’m happy at Chiefs. I’m happy at Chiefs and I just want to win stuff with Chiefs — this is where I belong.
“You know, look . . . I believe everything happens for a reason, the time I’ve been here, God has wanted us to go through certain situations for us to actually feel good when we get silverware you know.”
Before signing a two-year contract extension in July, Billiat was linked with a move to reigning African champions Al Ahly to reunite with his former Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane. But staying at Chiefs has seen him forming a formidable combination with Dolly as Chiefs search for a first piece of silverware since 2015.
“The more we haven’t been getting it (a trophy), the more we believe, the more we value and see the big difference when we will win it,” Billiat continued.
“We are professionals, we believe every team goes through such stages and it just happens to be us now. We never drop our heads, we believe we will get something at the end.”
Meanwhile, Billiat’s former teammate at Chiefs, Willard Katsande and fellow Zimbabwean Talent Chawapiwa, featured for surprise package Sekhukhune in their shock 1-0 win over Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon, rising to second place on the DStv Premiership log as a result.
Tshediso Patjie’s late goal proved the difference between the two teams — who both had a man sent off early on — with the result seeing Babina Noko move to second spot on 23 points, while Matsatsantsa are sixth on 19 points.
Sekhukhune had the first scoring chance of the game on four minutes, with Pogiso Mahlangu stabbing over the target after Vusimuzi Mncube had inadvertently knocked down Chawapiwa’s hopeful left-wing cross.
Mncube was then shown a straight red card by referee Victor Gomes in the seventh minute, with the match official left little choice by a studs-up challenge on Iqraam Rayners.
Yet SuperSport’s numerical advantage lasted only until the 14th minute when debutant Thalente Mbatha recklessly kicked out at the shins of Cheslyn Jampies and was also shown a straight red, leaving the game (which was not at all bad-tempered) at 10 v 10.
The hosts adapted quicker to the new dynamics of the clash and bossed possession, forcing Sekhukhune onto the back foot, but chances with which to test visiting goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata did not materialise until later in the half.
Thamsanqa Gabuza was close to putting SuperSport ahead on 38 minutes, sending a shot just wide of the near post after good work down the right flank from the overlapping Keenan Phillips, while injury time saw Jamie Webber strike a long-range effort over the crossbar.
The half ended with the score at 0-0 — and with neither Nsabata nor his counterpart Ronwen Williams having made a single save through the first 45 minutes.
Sekhukhune opted for a double change at the start of the second half, with Prince Nxumalo and Nkanyiso Madonsela rising off the bench to shake things up in attack and midfield respectively.
Yet SuperSport continued to enjoy more of the ball, though again penetrative attacking moves were few and far between. Only in the 71st minute did a shot in anger arrive from the team in blue, with Rayners dragging an effort wide from just outside the penalty area.
Less than a minute later, Babina Noko had a great chance to claim the lead when a breakaway handed Madonsela a great sight of goal, but he was denied by a fine one-handed save from Williams.
The keeper then almost immediately made another fine stop when he kept out Katsande’s goal-bound header from the subsequent corner kick.
SuperSport’s first change saw Bradley Grobler replace Rayners and join Gabuza in a two-pronged strike force, but it was Sekhukhune who claimed a late winner when Tshediso Patjie finished past Williams on 87 minutes, having been put in on goal by two fine passes from Seth Parusnath and Madonsela.
The teams will return to DStv Premiership action tomorrow, with SuperSport away to Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune at home to Marumo Gallants. — Goal.com
Online Reporter