Is Khama Billiat the most important footballer in South Africa?
Khama Billiat of Ajax Cape Town (L), Nick Powel (C) and Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United during the MTN Football Invitational match between Ajax Cape Town and Manchester United from Cape Town Stadium on July 21, 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa.
(July 20, 2012 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)
I vividly remember as an eight year old student in primary school being told that should your school play Gwinyiro Primary School, they wouldn’t a stand a chance because they had Khama. That was wisdom curated by slightly older brothers and sisters of mine in Mufakose, a suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe who had the privilege to be in his inner circle and see him dazzle the Mufakose crowd, young and old alike. Khama Billiat must have been just thirteen at the time, not enrolled in a fancy youth football academy but had made the dusty Mufakose streets and pitches his own. He was already the most important footballer in Mufakose, Harare and fast forward a few years, he has probably become Southern Africa’s pride and treasure. But who is he really?
Early Career
Noises about him definitely got louder as he finished primary school and soon became an Aces Youth Soccer Academy player in Harare where he continued developing into a professional footballer eventually grabbing the attention of Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League giants, CAPS United who handed him his first professional contract. He was so good that Makepekepe failed to keep Billiat for more than three months as South African Premier League side, Ajax Cape Town paid big money and snatched him from right under their noses. It was at Ajax Cape Town where his career really took off.
Blessing the South African PSL giants
Its generally considered a big break or breakthrough moment whenever a young player gets a chance to play for one of the big guns but for Khama Billiat, it was different. The big guns got a big break by winning his signature, he became an unfathomable blessing wherever he was. From 2010-13 at Ajax, Khama bagged a total 21 goals in 89 appearances for the Cape Town club. One of the memorable moments in that period was when Ajax welcomed Manchester United for a club friendly in July 2012. It was really a lowkey match as both teams fine tuned their methodologies before the new season, the match eventually ending in a 1-1 draw but Khama left a lasting impression on Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand. The retired England international described Billiat as an agile and exciting player to watch, with great speed and ball control.
It just got even better for the Zimbabwean as he eventually got a trial with Russian Premier League side, Lokomotiv Moscow in 2013 even though he signed for the Shoe-Shine Piano Boys, Mamelodi Sundowns.
2016, The Crowning Year
Khama Billiat of Mamelodi Sundowns controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Quarter Final match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kashima Antlers at Suita City Football Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Suita, Japan.
(Dec. 10, 2016 - Source: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images AsiaPac)
At Mamelodi Sundowns, Billiat cemented his place not just as great footballer in the country but across Africa. Bafana BaStyle refined their attractive style of play nicknamed shoe-shine piano with Khama in their ranks as he eventually formed a formidable partnership with youth striker, Percy Tau who recently got signed by English Premier League side, Brighton & Hove Albion. With both of them not short of pace, trickery and killer instinct - it was like watching Messi and Suarez decimate their opponents at Barcelona. He played an indispensable role in the team as Sundowns marched on to glory, winning the CAF Champions League for the first team in their history in 2016, three Premier Soccer League titles, the 2017 CAF Super Cup, 2014-15 Nedbank Cup and the 2015 Telkom Knockout. It was a pretty solid five years from 2013-18 with many armpits raised moments as silverware came like running tap water for Khama and the Tshwane club. In total, he scored 39 goals for Sundowns in 99 appearances and was named the 2016 PSL Player of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season and Midfielder of the Season. He was pimped to the individual continental award by teammate goalkeeper, Denis Onyango who took home the 2016 CAF Player Of The Year Award (for players based in Africa).
“Khama Billiat must have been just thirteen at the time, not enrolled in a fancy youth football academy but had made the dusty Mufakose streets and pitches his own. He was already the most important footballer in Mufakose, Harare and fast forward a few years, he has probably become Southern Africa’s pride and treasure.”
Still marching now, now unto legendary status
The 28-year-old parted ways with Sundowns in the summer for another PSL giant, Kaizer Chiefs, for a new challenge. He has already scored 5 goals and assisted 3 others in all competitions for Amakhosi who are currently sitting third on the PSL league standings, a point behind bitter rivals Orlando Pirates. Chiefs will be confident that Billiat can help bring to Soweto , some long lost silverware. The Amakhosi gaffer, Giovanni Solinas was not slow to heap praise on Billiat and highlight his importance to the team;
“Barcelona have ten players and Messi. Kaizer Chiefs have ten players and Billiat. Khama is the best player in the PSL and he’s one of those rare players who makes the difference.”
Khama, the Warrior
He has been capped thirty times now by Zimbabwe and scored ten international goals. He is a major ingredient in the Warriors of Zimbabwe setup and a protagonist, as he oversaw the operation where most successful nation in the biggest Southern Africa Football tournament, COSAFA took home two more titles in 2017 and 2018. He is a crowd favorite and big game player for every club he has played in the most followed and competitive league in Southern Africa, he is a midfielder, a goal scorer, and a dazzler. He is Khama Billiat and perhaps the most important footballer in the Southern African football right now.
Khama Billiat of Ajax CT during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on May 01, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa.
(April 30, 2013 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)