Yadah feel Khama’s absence

Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub

PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries-powered Premiership side Yadah Stars and their netball counterparts are currently singing the same hymn.

In their three opening Premier Soccer League outings, Yadah, now under veteran coach Ikabort Masocha, have managed just a point out of a possible nine.

The Miracle Boys’ netball counterparts, have also been singing the blues and sit at the bottom of the 21-team Rainbow Netball League log-table without a point to their name.

The two sides lost a number of influential players at the end of their 2024 seasons, leaving them with yawning spaces that are proving tough to mend.

Yadah Stars’ lost goalkeeper Mathius Kigonya, Khama Billiat, Blessed Ndereki, Clive Mandivei, Lenox Mucheto and Prosper Kafelapanjila.

There is no doubting that it is Billiat, who had brought an X-factor at The Heart stadium who is more conspicuous by his absence.

Billiat is now with Premiership debutants Scottland. His departure has also coincided with a poor start by Yadah.

The club’s situation was not helped either by the fact that in two of those matches they had to make with a very depleted side as they felt the effects of a FIFA ban from registering new players.

FIFA only lifted their ban on the eve of Yadah’s away trip to MWOS after they fully settled the money they had been owing their former Brazilian players.

Although Masocha had five substitutes for the encounter against MWOS, it did not stop Lloyd Mutasa’s early pacesetters from securing a comfortable 2-0 win. Since Billiat crossed the floor to Scottland, Yadah have struggled to find a talisman.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs star contributed 13 of the Yadah goal tally of 37, helping them navigate their way from relegation.

He was second on the PSL goal scorers’ chart, falling four goals shy of eventual Golden Boot winner Lynoth Chikuhwa who was with Highlanders.

His ability to read the game, his quick feet, and precise finishing have made him a nightmare for defenders across the league.

Now Billliat is part of a galaxy of stars at Tonderai Ndiraya’s disposal at Scottland while Masocha would have welcomed the FIFA international break as it afforded them a chance to add to their depth through registering more players.

Yadah will resume their league duties this afternoon with a home clash against struggling newboys Kwekwe United at The Heart.

Masocha did not hide his frustration after their defeat to MWOS.

“This is the worst performance that we have ever had since I joined the team,” he said.

“We failed to play our usual game, it was just a mess and now I see that we have a huge amount of homework to do if we are to change the narrative.

“If we continue like this, we will get ourselves into a lot of trouble in the end so we have to go back and reflect before it is too late.”

Masocha who has seen duty at the now defunct Douglas Warriors and Harare City will be hoping to have something to smile about this afternoon.

He has had a chance to add to his squad, the likes of King Nadolo back at Yadah, but on loan from Scottland.

Midfielder Innocent Mucheneka and goalkeeper Tymon Mvula are also at the club’s disposal.

It has, however, emerged that Mvula might not readily take his place between the Yadah sticks as there is till a lingering contractual dispute with Scottland.

Part of his loan agreement is that it is Scottland who will play him, while he is at Yadah, but the former Hwange and Dynamos goalkeeper is understood to be still searching for all the paperwork related to the deal.

The matter could be dragged into the corridors of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.

Yet for Billiat, he is expected to join Walter Musona and Michael Tapera in leading the Scottland charge when the debutants visit for tress Barbourfields for the first time where Bulawayo giants Highlanders are waiting to put them to the sword.