khama Billiat excites Nees

Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

WARRIORS coach Michael Nees feels Khama Billiat has a lot to give to the national team after convincing the forward to come out of retirement and join the squad for the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers.

Billiat’s return to the national team has not come as a surprise to some after the 34-year-old reinvented himself at Yadah on his return from South Africa.

However, there are others who feel Billiat had played his part, after announcing his retirement from international football in 2021, before his career took a nosedive in the neighbouring country.

But the 34-year-old has demonstrated class is permanent playing at modest local side Yadah Stars. He is currently the league’s joint top goal scorer, tied on 10 goals with Simba Bhora’s Tymon Machope and William Manondo of CAPS United.

Nees, who has been following Zimbabwean football for a long time, said he was keen to know why Billiat had hung up his boots, during Zimpapers Television Network show, The Couch.

The new Warriors coach was convinced through engagement with the player that he was still an assert for the Zimbabwe national team.

“I wanted to know what was the reason (for going into retirement). I wanted to understand if he still has the fire in himself to play.

“It’s understandable that a player in his mid-30s, with three children or two children (goes into retirement). But he will come here back, that means he will be away three to five days travelling from the family and from the club.

“We must respect that, that’s why players sometimes retire. So, I wanted to find out if he really wanted to come or he was being pressed by someone else to come back and really I came to the conclusion he still has that wish and that fire to come back and give everything.

“I think that’s best, you cannot deny his football skills and talent and if he still has the fire, I would say frankly I would be a very unwise coach not to consider such a player,” said Nees.

The Zimbabwe team is set to go in camp on Sunday to prepare for the two matches against Kenya next Friday and Cameroon on September 10.