Online Reporter
Taddy Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
KHAMA BILLIAT says Scottland can appropriately gauge where they stand when they face Kaizer Chiefs before embarking on their CAF Champions League journey next month.
The reigning Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions are scheduled to play Amakhosi in the Toyota Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng on July 26.
Now, in its third year, the Toyota Cup is designed to shape up the Soweto giants in their pre-season ahead of the South African regular football term that runs between August and May.
Already, Kaizer Chiefs have played Tanzanian side Young Africans (2024) and Asante Kotoko of Ghana (2025) in the Toyota Cup.
And, for Scottland, the match presents much more than just an exhibition as it comes just as the Zimbabweans will be readying for the CAF Champions League assignments.
Billiat knows how valuable it is to play against a team of Kaizer Chiefs’ calibre having been part of that team himself for close to three years.
The talismanic midfielder spent more than a decade in the South African top-flight first playing for Ajax Cape Town then Mamelodi Sundowns before joining Kaizer Chiefs.
“Oh, I think it will be a good encounter,” said Billiat.
“I mean, we’re looking forward to it and it’s those games that we can see how far we are as a team. “That’s when we can see how much we have developed and to which level, you know?
“So, we’re just looking forward to a great game and I’m sure by then we would gather ourselves together and play our best. That’s a nice game we are looking forward to.”
Billiat said it will be a dream for him to reconnect with Kaizer Chiefs, three years after he left the Naturena side.
“Football is such a beautiful game,” Billiat said.
“You know getting to face Kaizer Chiefs again will be a dream. Those guys are nice. They treated me well and they are home.
“It will be nice to face them playing for my Zimbabwean team. It will be a dream to see the fans again, to see the players and everyone at Kaizer Chiefs in such an environment.
“I am more than eager to be involved in that game.”
But Billiat said he isn’t losing focus on the domestic scene where he, and Kaizer Chiefs legend Knowledge Musona, are the leading lights in Scottland’s quest to defend the Premiership title.
Billiat has scored seven goals and weighed in with several assists as Mabviravira climbed from fourth to first over the past four weeks.
“I think the best help I can give Scottland is to do better over the games. You know, it might not be me on the day, but as long as I contribute positively to the team to get the results, it makes me happy.
“And, oh, look, we look at the numbers at the end of the season.
“Hopefully I’ll be happy with it at the end of the day. At the end of the season, we are all eager to be happy. We are hoping to win at the end of the day.
“Whether I score or assist, that’s still fine. At the end of the day, I want to see the team win games.”
