Kaizer Chiefs and former Zimbabwean international attacker, Khama Billiat, are heading for crunch talks as their five-year relationship approaches its expiry date at the end of the season! If the rumour mill is anything to go by, the Soweto giants have not made up their minds on whether to part ways or give the former Mamelodi Sundowns influential attacker another chance. He first signed a three-year deal and then extended it for another two seasons two years ago.
While there has been no official word on the contract extension or the contrary, from Amakhosi, what we all know for a fact is that Billiat's days at the Naturena-based club could be numbered, with the expiry of his contract approaching! Although one would understand if the club decided to part ways because – seeing there's not much the 32-year-old has done to warrant a 'stay of execution' at coach Arthur Zwane's side – it wouldn't make business sense to keep him in their employ. However, one can't shake the feeling that there's still some unfinished business for "Gaucho" at the Glamour Boys!
This is a man who was signed, amid fanfare, from Mamelodi Sundowns, where he played his best football since making his journey across the Beitbridge,13 years ago! That was the last time he laid his hands on a piece of silverware, a feeling he had become accustomed to, and the last time he ranked among the top players in the country consistently. That's when the mere mention of "Khama Billiat" was enough to send shivers down an opposition's spine. To say he hasn't lived up to expectations, and failed to set the scene alight, since joining Amakhosi would be an understatement! The very same Khama who was firing on all cylinders at Sundowns was expected to replicate his form and become one of the pieces to the puzzle that would revive the sleeping giant of South African football, Kaizer Chiefs. He was one of the players expected to play a significant role in quenching the long-standing trophy thirst. This is a player who was brought in as a marquee signing on whom a responsibility to become the face of the team was bestowed. You don't sign a player like Billiat, take him away from Sundowns, without expectations or a vision.
In all honesty, Billiat will be the first to admit that things haven't turned out the way he would have liked them to at Chiefs. Yes, injuries and instability in the technical team played a role in it, but maybe, just maybe, there is more that he should have done or less that he should have done of. Only he can shed light on why he hasn't been the same player because, whether it was a sheer co-incidence, Chiefs look to have tried to do everything to get him going and getting to his best. The very same combination of Leonardo Castro, Billiat and Keagan Dolly, affectionately known as CBD, which he was an important part of at Chloorkop, was eventually re-assembled at Naturena. The combination didn't work out as well as it did in the players' previous lives, but individually, Castro and Dolly will confidently raise their hands and say they did above average, even though there's always room for improvement. It is just difficult for Khama to make a case for himself because most of his stay at Chiefs has been dominated by sporadic highlight reels.
Billiat has failed to be the Naturena-based outfit's regular weapon of mass destruction during his stay, one of the things he was brough in for. In essence, Chiefs have not yet found what they were looking for from Billiat and, if things were to end between the two parties, he would sadly make the list of the unfortunate signings that didn't work out. Yes, you can make an argument for him, but if you know Billiat's true talent and remember how high a standard he's set, it is not difficult to see that his Chiefs move hasn't really lived up to expectations. You can argue about the quality of the players he's been surrounded by as well as the team's two-transfer-seasons FIFA ban, but still it takes one season at Sundowns to remind everyone who and what we are talking about here! A player of Billiat's quality and experience is expected to literally and figuratively carry the team, consistently so, on his broad shoulders with a smile on his face.
You don't break the bank and expect anything less than consistent top performances from a player. It just doesn't make sense, let alone business sense. Surely Billiat, deep down, knows and feels like he owes Kaizer Chiefs because the fanfare with which he was brought to Chiefs hasn't been matched by his output on the field of play! If he is honest enough, he will look himself in the mirror and agree that he hasn't done enough, by his standards, to warrant another chance at a contract at Chiefs. However, if given another chance to wear the famous Gold and Black jersey, Billiat would pull out all the stops to ensure he reaches greater heights and lives up to expectations. No one can argue against his talent and how great a player he is on his day. There's just something missing in his game, something he needs to sort out sooner so that can he return to the Khama Billiat we all know.
The Billiat that no defender wants to come face-to-face with, the dangerous Billiat who would singlehandedly create havoc for the whole opposition defensive line. That Billiat who would impose himself on the opposition and take the game by the scruff of the neck, swinging it in his team's favour. We long for that Billiat, we miss seeing him influence the results of the game by either scoring a winning goal or mesmerising everyone around him to create a scoring opportunity for a teammate. Chief sorely miss and need that player. They have him in the real Billiat! With the number of young and new players in the team, Billiat should be one of the leaders in ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
He should be one of the players to help coach Zwane manage his dressing room and play a mentor's role to the young lads. The last time we saw this kind of Billiat at Chiefs was during coach Giovanni Solinas' short stint in 2018. Whether it was because of the understanding he had with the coach, who clearly hero-worshipped and even likened him to Lionel Messi, is neither here nor there. For some reason, coach Solinas managed to get the best out of the former Zimbabwean international and he was arguably the first name on the coach's starting line-up. What happened since then? Where did it go wrong and can Billiat revive his career, if he were to be given another chance at Chiefs? Will the real Billiat stand up and be counted on? Does he deserve another shot at a stay at Naturena? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, Billiat still has it in him to remind everyone what he is all about and it is all up to him.
Cheers,
Veejay
