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to fly out from Cape Town to Slovenia to join the Russian giants for their pre-season training camp.
The Ajax Cape Town hotshot has been in demand in the off-season, with Absa Premiership giants Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns heavily linked with a move for his signature.
Such has been the huge interest on Billiat’s services that his club had even put a R10 million price tag on him, about a US$1 million at the time they made the valuation, to ensure only serious contenders put in their bid for the winger.
Although such a figure would scare away potential suitors in South Africa, it is small change when it comes to European clubs and, in the event that Billiat passes his trials, he could go for about three or four times what Ajax Cape Town had put on his head for a domestic sale.
Billiat and his management team have always made a move to Europe their top priority with the Warriors forward eager to follow the same route that his former Ajax Cape Town teammate, Bafana Bafana midfielder Thulani Serero, took.
After his management initially furnished Lokomotiv with DVDs on the player, the Russian side then decided to invite Billiat for a final assessment this week, a development that has left the former Aces Youth Academy forward relishing the prospects of finally making the kind of break that his talents deserve.
Edzai Kasinauyo, the player’s manager, yesterday declared Billiat ready for the trials and remained optimistic that the winger would make the grade.
“He will go for a week in Slovenia where he will link with the team that is already in that country for a pre-season training camp so Khama is flying direct from Cape Town.
“I think it’s a good opportunity for him because Lokomotiv are a big club in Russia who have regularly competed in the Champions League and if he makes it, it will give him a chance to showcase his talents on a bigger platform and even open other windows for him.
“Lokomotiv have a new manager who is building a new team and looking to bring in fresh talent and Khama might just be one of them.
“The player himself is very excited about it all and he is looking forward to the challenge, so hopefully he will enjoy his stay there and come back with positive news,’’ Kasinauyo said.
Billiat, speaking from his base in Cape Town, also revealed his excitement at the offer.
“I am just excited and I am hoping for the best.
“It is a big chance that has come my way, Lokomotiv are a big team and I hope to grab the opportunity with both hands,’’ Billiat said.
Mickey Paiva, the South African agent brokering the deal, was also optimistic about Billiat’s prospects and told KickOff.com that Lokomotiv “have been very satisfied with the DVDs we have shown them and now it’s just to look at him close up”.
“It will be a great move for the player because Lokomotiv are a club with massive history – this will be a great chance for him.
“He will be there for four days and then we’ll see what they come up with. I will then sit with Ajax Cape Town and his agent Edzai Kasinauyo who have been very co-operative in making this happen, to see what is best for Khama,’’ Paiva said.
Billiat is no stranger to having a stint at a European club as he once spent some time at Ajax Amsterdam and the Warriors winger felt that his experience at the Urban Warriors and their European namesakes would stand him in good stead when he arrives in Slovenia.
If he makes the grade at Lokomotiv, Billiat would become the second Zimbabwean to ply his trade in the Russian Leagues with fellow countryman and former Highlanders and Motor Action hitman Musa Mguni playing for FC Terek Grozny.
Locomotiv, who are based in the Russian capital, were founded in August 1923 and are two-time Russian Premier League champions and have won the Russian Cup a record of five times.
But they have been struggling with their game of late and finished a disappointing ninth with 43 points from 30 games in the 2012-13 season, a massive 21 points behind champions and city neighbours CSKA Moscow.
This is despite the fact that they have some of the established players like Vedran Corluka, Felipe Caicedo, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Nigeria’s Victor Obinna on their books.
Finishing on the lower rung of the 16-team league table cost then coach Slaven Bilic his job after just one season in charge as it was Lokomotiv’s worst position since the establishment of the modern day Russian top-flight in 1992.
Bilic’s contract was subsequently terminated by mutual agreement on June 17 with Leonid Kuchuk being appointed to take over the mantle and tasked with trying to revive the glory years of 1996 to 2007 when they were regulars on the medals podium winning the championship and claiming their five Russian Cup titles.
With the top six Russian clubs eligible to play Champions League football (top two) and in the Europa Cup Lokomotiv will also be looking to improve drastically on their poor ninth place finish in the coming season and Billiat might just be one of the new faces who could be signed as part of that revival mission.
Crucially for the Warriors, a move to Russia for Billiat could be sweet news for the senior side that needs more of its players to be competing at the highest levels of the game in Europe in order for Zimbabwe to become a force in Africa again.
Billiat’s close friend Knowledge Musona is already in Europe plying his trade in Germany and has been the Warriors talisman.
Online Reporter