By Edward Kuyipa
Prolific footballer Khama Billiat was supposed to shine at the Afcon games, but he ended up being a shooting star. Not his fault some pundits said. The common argument is, “Elementary my dear, who wants to risk a career terminating injury in the absence of any significant support or insurance from the government and the soccer governing body.” And others said that he was wrongly positioned. Nonetheless the warriors were literally Afcon's tourists.
They came, they saw how others play the game and they went back home. As for Billiat, expectations were still high for him after the inglorious stint at Afcon.
The history of Khama Billiat begins with Cheche Billiat, for it was he that mentored him. Cheche, the late Caps United former star, was the late brother to Khama's father Mustafa. Perhaps and in all probability it is the
fact that Cheche had two daughters instead of a son that he decided to leave his legacy to his nephew.
Undoubtedly, he is not turning in his grave. Nor is his grandfather who played for Sables. For Mustafa and Rosa's son and his nephew has risen to the occasion. The rest of Mufakose too must be celebrating like Bethlehem's shepherds, for this is where he was born in 1990 at Mufakose Clinic. Marc Duvillard later transferred the young upstart from Gwinyiro Primary to Lord Malvern. In fact, compliments of Duvillard- Aces Academy- the young Khama went to Switzerland whilst he was in Grade Six.
And the rest is history.
He played for the Green Machine Caps United and Ajax Amsterdam. Khama is the second Zimbabwean to win the CAF Champions league with Mamelodi Sundowns which he joined after leaving Ajax Capetown in 2013.
Unsung hero, Chris Samakweri won the trophy whilst playing for Democratic Republic of Congo giants TP Mazembe in 2010. Billiat, is the reigning PSL's Footballer of the Season and Absa Premiership Players' Player of the Season.
WARRIORS striker, Khama Billiat lost the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Player of the Year (based in Africa) award to Sundowns team- mate, goalkeeper Denis Onyango, at an awards ceremony recently held in Abuja, Nigeria.
Despite the fact that the warriors did not make it beyond the group stage during Afcon 2017, and many people's expectations were deflated after anticipating that the duo of Musona and Billiat would deliver victory Billiat's star is expected to shine brighter in the future.
Expectations are that he will eventually get a signing in the lucrative European league.
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