The Khamaldinho Show

trade in Super Diski, since the turn of the year and it is a measure of his brilliance that rising Bafana Bafana star Thulani Serero believes Khamaldinho is a better player than him.
Serero, who is favourite to win the South African Player of the Year award after an incredible season at Ajax Cape Town, has already secured a move to Europe although his final destiny is still a matter of discussion.
It is therefore confirmation of how much Billiart is valued at Ajax Cape Town that Serero believes that the Zimbabwean star is even a better player than him.
“Khama is very good. I think very highly of him. I think he can play the Number 10 very well. He’s got everything you need to play in that position,” Serero told Soccer-Laduma.
“He’s fast, he’s skilful and he can find space. I also think his decision making is very good as well.
“That is something that needs to really be at a high level. YOU KNOW, HE’S MUCH BETTER THAN ME, SERIOUSLY.
“I also think his versatility is very useful. He can play left or right wing, striker and, of course, number 10. HE’S A SPECIAL PLAYER.”
Ajax Cape Town’s Dutch coach Foppe de Haan believes Billiart will be a huge asset for the team.
“He’s a real youngster and he’s improving all the time. Some days he does real good and other days he’s real bad,” said the Dutchman.
“But he’s a youngster and you can expect this. But he will improve and I’ve already told them at the club about him. I’ve told them he’s Ajax future number 10 in a few years because he can play this role really well, I think.
“At the moment, he can play on the left wing or the right wing position because he can come inside and attack. He scores goals as well, which I like.
“Overall I’m really satisfied with Khama’s progress.”
Billiart believes the success of Zimbabwean players in Super Diski has roots in the mentality they get from their junior coaches back home.
“The coaches are always giving young players that picture of, ‘Football is not all about money, it is about building a career,'” said Billiart.
“They drill into you the importance of hard work and are always saying you must try to get your highest score in everything you do, so that when your chance comes you must be ready to play wherever you want to.
“Perhaps sometimes players in South Africa have it too easy in that it’s enough for them to get money to just turn up and play.
“Maybe for us it’s all about having a long career. And that takes work and respect for what we are doing every day.
“It’s about knowing where you want to go and what you want to make of your life.”
Billiart has already been dubbed the Zimbabwean Serero by the Ajax Cape Town fans.
“That makes me feel good. I’m very grateful for that. It’s like Serero can make you so much better because he is so good,” said Billiart.
“He’s someone who can do something special at any time. So I’m happy to be called the Zimbabwean Serero. It says a lot, you know.”
Billiart believes he owes a lot to his coach De Haan, who is set to quit at the end of the season and return to Holland.
“He’s such a great coach. I hope that, just like any of the other players, we’ll work the same way with any other coach who takes over,” said Billiart.
“I’m going to miss our coach because, as far as I’m concerned, he’s the best coach ever. I’ve never worked with anyone better. He’s not a harsh coach.
“He always motivates players in a good way. I just hope things are going to be the same with whoever takes over.
“Right now we almost play to make Foppe happy, you know. It’s like even at training, when you’re tired, or on those long trips away, you don’t feel trapped in a tight corner because you know the coach is there for you.
“He’s given me confidence. He’s always telling me ‘You are so quick. It’s real hard for you to be marked. So keep moving and do your best to find space. Make sure your first touch is perfect.’
“Another thing he emphasises are my transitions from defence to attack. So, if we like lose the ball, he wants to see how quickly you can get it back. These things I’ll remember the most from him.”
The Ajax coach was critical of his team’s poor finishing in the first half of the season and, in the second half, Billiart and Serero have moved a gear and are now finishing their chances better.
“He did talk about the finishing a lot because in the first half of the season we were missing a lot of chances. I was missing and was one of the players who wasn’t finishing perfectly,” said Billiart.
“He was telling me, ‘You have to work and stay behind after training to practice more with the other attacking players.’
“I think as a result, this helped us.”
Billiart struck a brilliant double as Ajax Cape Town beat Orlando Pirates in a big league match recently.
“It was a great feeling. Like that second goal I got was almost like everything we had worked on at training,” said Billiart.
“I mean, Thulani squared the ball in to me on the edge of the box.
” The ball was coming at pace. My first thought was to pick a spot and then, if it was possible, I was going to strike the ball first time. I was worried it might bump at the last second but his pass was perfect. So when it went into the top corner I was very happy.”
Billiart said he was ready to play the Number 10 for his team.
“It’s the playmaker. You have to get the team to play. You have to make yourself available at all the times when we going on the attack,” said Billiart.
“You have to find space between the lines. You’ll find that most of the defenders are picking up number nine and 11, but the number 10 will be freer because you are coming deeper from midfield.
“It’s difficult for them to mark and easier for you to attack. You can almost be the free man every time if you get into the right positions.
“Even if the defender decides to come out to mark you, it means they will leave space for say the number nine or 11 to exploit.
“The role also gives you freedom to drift wide on to the left or right flanks and attack like a wing if the situation allows.
“It’s such an important position in our team because when you’ve got the ball in attack, the number 10 is the most important player there.
“If you play this position correctly, by getting into the right positions at the right time, it will mean you will have more of an advantage than the opposition. It’s a very important and exciting position to play.”