What’s next for Khama?

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

FORMER Zimbabwe international Khama Billiat faces a defining phase in his career as he enters the final six months of his contract at South African Premiership football giants Kaizer Chiefs.

Saddled with an avalanche of criticism, recurring injuries and the failure to replicate the form that attracted him to Chiefs four years ago, Billiat faces an uncertain future at the club.

The lanky attacking midfielder’s contract with Kaizer Chiefs is set to expire in June, but the club has not made a statement while Billiat has remained a regular in Arthur Zwane’s team.

The next six months will be key for the 32-year-old as he is approaching the twilight of his contract. Chiefs have the option to extend his contract by another season, though.

However, Billiat is yet to find the back of the net in the 2022–23 season despite featuring in 11 games across all competitions for the Glamour Boys. He has, however, created three assists.

Billiat arrived at Chiefs in 2018 amid high expectations after a successful spell with Mamelodi Sundowns where he had won three South African Premier Soccer League titles and the CAF Champions League, apart from several individual accolades at home and on the continent.

But the experienced star is yet to win any silverware with the Glamour Boys.

As one of the highest paid players in the league, Billiat has endured even more challenges off the pitch where an army of critics are always ready to seize every opportunity to fire salvos at him.

The forward, though, has received the backing of his coach and several teammates. Former Zimbabwe national team skipper Willard Katsande, who played alongside Billiat both for club and country, believes the midfielder has been affected by the negative criticism directed at him.

Katsande wrote in his Thisisfootball.Africa column that Billiat needs support rather than the bashing he has been getting left right and centre.

“Now he must take the stage, he must take all the blame as well as the criticism because he’s a senior player. But looking at it in a different view, he is a quality player who needs to be supported during this difficult moment.

“Supporters must rally behind him and stop criticising him. Let me tell you what type of guy Khama is. Khama is the kind of player who is sensitive. He is unlike me. I’m a village boy, and I was a die-hard, a hardcore player.

“Other players like him are not like that. They need to be handled and treated differently. They need all the love and attention; they thrive on that. Some players need that to perform at their best. Even some of the best players in the world are like that. Currently he is not getting that from anywhere. So psychologically, I think he’s not 100 percent there, because he can feel that the love is not there anymore,” Katsande wrote in his Thisisfootball.Africa column.

Although no longer matching his peak, Katsande believes Billiat still has two or more seasons ahead of him because of his class and big game mentality.

Billiat was named the Player of the Year in the South African Premiership in 2016 and also finished as runner-up to Denis Onyango for the CAF African Player of the Year based in Africa award in the same year

“When you grow older some things change and as a player, you become more experienced. Now he is a senior player. He requires all that support. He still has two or three good seasons to give for the club.

“If you can even look at other top players in the world of his age, they are older now, just like him and they are supported by the fans. But how can you be mature when everyone is throwing all these negative things at you?

“Every time he goes on social media or reads the news, there is negativity about him. Of course, he is going to feel down because of it and of course then his performance will suffer. I don’t blame him for that. We need to show him some love because we know when Khama is at his peak, he makes us all proud,” added Katsande.

Billiat has been attacked by fans, former players and coaches in South African media. South African coach, Mlungisi “Professor” Ngubane, recently made wild accusations that the former Zimbabwe international is struggling for form at Kaizer Chiefs because he either allegedly lied about his age or due to excessive partying. Speaking on Robert Marawa’s Marawa Sports Worldwide show, Ngubane said he suspected off-the-field issues were responsible for Billiat’s form loss.

“He cannot be earning so much (money) but not performing on the field. There is definitely something wrong. It is either he is really unhappy, he doesn’t sleep enough, and he parties all night, or he cheated (his) age,” remarked Ngubane.

Former Zimbabwe international and Chiefs legend Tinashe Nengomasha recently told South African media that Billiat has not done enough to convince Amakhosi to give him a new contract.

“If Khama wants a new contract, he should work for it. All players (who are in his situation) do the same thing. If you know your contract is ending and you want to stay at a club, you should show that on the field.

“We all know what he could do at Sundowns. He is a local boy, I support him, but he has to show the Chiefs management that he deserves a new contract. Everything is in his hands.

“If the fans are not happy with his form, he should accept that and work hard. He has the talent, we all know that, but he needs to work hard,” Nengomasha was quoted by Goal.com recently. Chiefs, who are currently in fourth place, seven points adrift of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, are set to return from the World Cup break on December 31 against Golden Arrows.