Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
LONG before Khama Billiat became a champion of Africa, he spent a year away from football and worked in a clothing shop.
He had joined Aces Youth Soccer Academy at the age of 10, but financial problems at the institution made competitive football difficult. He eventually stopped playing.
Billiat has previously revealed that he worked in the shop during that period before finding his way back into the game.
He turned 36 on Wednesday, having won league titles in South Africa and Zimbabwe, the CAF Champions League and three major South African individual awards.
He now plays for Scottland and helped the club win the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship in its debut top-flight season.
That year away from football remains central to how Billiat views the opportunities that followed.
“Where I come from has always been important to me because that is where everything started,” he said.
“There were moments when things were difficult and football looked very far away, but those experiences helped me grow.
“When you are young, you have dreams, but you don’t know how far football can take you. You just want to play and improve every day.
“I think the challenges taught me not to take opportunities for granted.”
His return to football eventually took him to CAPS United, a club Billiat has credited with helping shape his career.
His stay was brief, but it opened the door to Ajax Cape Town in 2010. Three years later, he joined Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sundowns brought the most successful period of his career.
Under Pitso Mosimane, Billiat became a key member of the team that won the 2015/2016 South African Premiership.
His acceleration, close control and ability to change direction made him one of Southern African football’s most difficult attackers to contain.
Billiat swept the three major individual honours for which he was nominated, winning the Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Midfielder of the Season awards.
Later in 2016, Sundowns won the CAF Champions League and qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Six years after leaving Zimbabwe for Cape Town, Billiat was playing on the world stage as an African champion.
That season also saw him finish second to Sundowns teammate Denis Onyango in the 2016 CAF African Player of the Year Based in Africa award.
Speaking to FIFA before the Club World Cup, Billiat credited Sundowns’ success to the closeness of the team and the willingness of the players to work for one another.
He also spoke about growing up admiring Warriors legend Peter Ndlovu, who later became a mentor to him at Sundowns.
A decade later, the two are together again at Scottland, where Ndlovu is the team manager.
“Winning the Champions League is something that will always be special,” Billiat said.
“As a player, you want to win trophies, but to become a champion of Africa is something different. I was fortunate to play with very good players and work with coaches who challenged me. I learnt that talent alone is never enough at the highest level.”
After five years at Sundowns, Billiat joined Kaizer Chiefs in 2018.
Injuries interrupted his five seasons at Naturena and he did not reproduce the individual heights he had reached at Sundowns.
He left Chiefs in 2023 and returned to Zimbabwean football with Yadah the following year. Billiat’s return was not merely about seeing out his career. He scored 13 league goals and provided 11 assists during the 2024 season, finishing second runner-up in the Soccer Star of the Year selection. He moved to Scottland ahead of the 2025 campaign and helped the newcomers win the championship in their first Premiership season.
Billiat scored the opening goal in the 5-1 victory over Kwekwe United that secured the title with two matches remaining.
The championship gave him his first Zimbabwean league medal.
“I have been blessed to experience a lot through football,” Billiat said.
“I left Zimbabwe as a young player with dreams and now I am back home with experience that I hope can also help the younger players.
“Football has given me a lot. At this stage, it is not only about Khama anymore. You also think about what you can give back to the game and what the next generation can learn from your journey.”
Billiat has made 63 appearances and scored 18 goals for the Warriors since his international debut in 2011.
He represented Zimbabwe at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals. He also played a decisive role in the 2018 COSAFA Cup final, scoring twice in extra time as the Warriors beat Zambia 4-2.
At 36, Billiat believes he can still contribute to the game.
“I still love playing football,” he said.
“As long as I am able to compete and help my team, I want to enjoy every moment.”
