Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS star Khama Billiat, who was a target of rough tackles from Burkina Faso, is out of danger and was expected to return to training yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Niger at Stade PèreJégo, in Casablanca.
Coach Michale Nees has already expressed his disappointment with the way the opponents targeted Khama in Zimbabwe’s 2-0 defeat in the friendly match last Friday.
With the Warriors missing out on a number of other stars, including Knowledge Musona, Tawanda Chirewa, Jordan Zemura and Marshal Munetsi, it was only natural that Khama was the leader and was also kept in check.
Chances are high coach Nees will make changes for the second and final friendly match, against Niger, but it was not yet clear yesterday if he would risk Khama getting back into battle again in search of a positive script.
On Saturday the squad had a recovery training, with Khama sitting out for that one, but was expected to make a return yesterday.
“(He) sat out yesterday’s session as he recovers from the knocks he sustained versus Burkina Faso, but he is expected to train today (Sunday). Otherwise there’s a clean bill of health,” Zifa said in a statement.
Nees was particularly worried after they pulled Khama out and admitted he was forced to change his game plan.
“I think Khama was fouled six or seven times, and we had to take him out. Tino was still in good shape, and I let him play.
“ . . . I think he played well Khama, I think if he had lasted, he would have made a goal and an assist with Tino,” said Nees.
The Zimbabwe coach ended up playing Tino Kadewere more minutes than he had planned.
Despite the defeat to Burkina Faso, coach Nees wants his charges to look ahead.
“We didn’t have many of our regular players who were missing for one reason or another. We also wanted to give other players a chance. We must look at the bigger picture and we must learn out of it and move forward,” he said.
Khama is getting old period! He was retired. Izvi zvekuti akange achazogowesa pagame reBurkina Faso ndezvekupenga nakurashika njere kwaNees. How many has he scored so far in the ZPSL. I saw Khama lose five six or seven balls ari ega in that game. Achitadza kucontroller kana kungoita pasi yakanaka. Khama has shorter paces, is no longer as fast, tends to turn around when he should be springing forward. The turning around was understandable because he could not compete physically with those big players. Being shorter meant he could not compete in aerial battles. He is a smaller player, and those players were strong. Khama was an infill to lighten the load for the new players who were totally strangers to each other at the beginning of the World Cup and Nations Cup campaign. By now Nees should be talking about having found replacements for Khama and Knowledge. If He thinks they are saviors they are not, they are going to be liabilities because of their age. Of cause Khama can go the Nations Cup because he has been part of the team from the beginning, I cannot say the same for Musona. While Khama can retain his position because of his position and his flair and that the other players are used to him, there are many who can play in Musona’s position with better flair and who can take his place. Probably the reason why a majority of better performing local players were not used for Cosafa. So that the underperforming National team Players do not have competition. Sigh! Corruption corrupts absolutely!