Can Billiat deliver again?

Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor

MAYBE, some things are just meant to be — same stadium, same tournament, same desperate situation, same weight on his slender shoulders and the same expectations, from his country.

It’s like a journey back into time, for him, for the Warriors, for Zimbabwe’s 2022 World Cup hopes, which now look remote.

And, for a nation which, once again, finds itself, having been pushed into a very tight corner.

Once again, it’s a defining moment, it’s either they win or they are out — just after four group games, in which, the only consistency, from this poor campaign, so far, has come from their inconsistency.

One point, in three matches, represents a very pathetic return for the Warriors.

One goal, which only came from the penalty spot, highlights how they have struggled, in their quest for a place in Qatar.

A 1-3 defeat in Ghana on Saturday, after a late collapse in a game in which they had dragged themselves back to parity, just piled on the misery.

It provided a brutal reminder of how the Warriors have lost the Midas Touch, and the potency, which used to make them a very dangerous opponent, just three years ago.

Back in the days when they could venture into Kinshasa, one of the toughest places to go in African football, with a genuine belief they could beat the Democratic Republic of Congo, in their backyard.

They appear to have lost something, a big part of their soul, which used to make them such a competitive team, which was even good enough to emerge out of Kinshasa, with a stunning 2-1 victory, in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.

Whatever happened, amid the chaos which plagued their Nations Cup finals adventure in Egypt, where a 0-4 humiliation at the hands of the Congolese provided a fitting closure to the madness, appears to have devoured a part of their spirit.

They only won twice, in the 2021 Nations Cup qualifiers, with both victories coming away from home, in Zambia and Botswana.

They conceded four goals, in two home matches, against Algeria and Chipolopolo.

But, none of all that can compare to the shame of that 2022 World Cup preliminary round defeat, at the hands of Somalia, in Djibouti, which turned us into the laughing stock, of the global football family.

And, when the homeless Somalis arrived here for the reverse fixture, there was a feeling the whole world, sensing one of its finest romantic tales, had also come with them, to sing in their corner.

Even fate appeared to favour the visitors, as a ball bounced off Teenage Hadebe and rolled clear for Omar Abdulla Mohamed, to poke past goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, in the 85th minute.

It tied the score at 1-1, with just five minutes of regulation time left and, incredibly, 2-1 in favour of the lightweights, on aggregate.

The visitors were in complete control, knowing their golden away goal would count double, even in the event the Warriors scored again, to level the aggregate score.

Some of the fans, unable to bear the humiliation of being witnesses, in the final few minutes when their team’s embarrassment would be confirmed, poured out of the stadium.

Even after Knox Mutizwa fired home from a free-kick, in the 87th minute, the good money was still on the Ocean Stars, hanging on to write one of the greatest stories, in the history of the World Cup qualifiers.

Khama Billiat had missed the reverse fixture in Djibouti, because of injury.

But, given what was at stake, and with Knowledge Musona also unavailable, the Kaizer Chiefs forward was brought home, to try and salvage the situation, even though he wasn’t fully fit.

However, for a long time during the contest, Billiat struggled to find the spark which many had been hoping his presence would provide to the team, with the disciplined Somali defence keeping numbers around him.

Then, halfway into the four minutes of time added on, it happened. The Warriors poured forward and Mutizwa found Billiat, with a fine pass drilled from the right channel, the touch to take ownership of the ball was exquisite, with the outside of his foot.

A swerve of his body fooled his marker, opening a small pocket of space and, once he was clear, even from a tricky angle, he went for gold, with his rising effort flying into the corner for the winner.

It was the goal which ensured the Warriors still remain in the trenches, of the World Cup qualifiers, today.  And, after missing the defeat in Ghana, because of suspension, Billiat finds himself facing a similar scenario.

Returning to the team, which he has served well for about a decade, with their hopes in tatters, in a crucial game where, just like in September 2019, against the Somalis, they have to win at all cost. Of course, Ghana, whom the Warriors face at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon, are not Mickey Mouse opponents, like the Ocean Stars of Somalia.

But, if Billiat can produce a similar rescue act for the Warriors today, he knows he will have his name written in letters of gold, similar to the colours of their shirts, by fans, across the entire country.

There are many who will say he is not in the kind of form, which can be compared to two years ago, when he was the star of that rescue mission.

It’s a fair assessment and Billiat has struggled to touch the heights which he scaled, a few years ago, when he was still at Mamelodi Sundowns. But, in this game, they say form is temporary, and class is permanent.

What a challenge for the diminutive forward. All he needs is to try and use the grand stage, where his country’s World Cup hopes are again hanging by a thread, to come up with another big performance, to silence the Doubting Thomases.

Two years ago, he did just that, when everything appeared done and dusted, with the Warriors facing a humiliating exit, whose wounds would still have been fresh.

Now, is the moment for him to try and do it again, for the sake of his teammates, who missed him in the reverse encounter.

And, more importantly, for the sake of his country.

What a story that would be.