Khama Billiat prepares the ball for a penalty kick in Zimbabwe's 1-0 victory over Namibia
Photo Credit: Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA)
Zimbabwe star Khama Billiat has said the Warriors have the pedigree to compete strongly at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after having sealed their qualification from Group J with a game to spare.
Billiat's manager Godfrey Bakasa said this in an exclusive interview with Pan-Africa Football in reaction to the Warriors’ return to the AFCON finals after missing the last edition held in Ivory Coast due to a FIFA suspension. Bakasa said the 34-year-old attacker was influential in helping the Warriors return to the continental football showpiece after grabbing an assist in the decisive one-all draw with Kenya’s Harambee Stars on Friday.
“I am really excited to see him back and performing well in the Warriors' colours,” the manager said in an interview from Harare. “He is looking forward to performing in AFCON with the team. He feels they have enough talent, depth, and technical prowess to make a mark in the competition.”
Bakasa said Billiat’s return to domestic football when he signed for Yadah FC helped recapture his form and bounce back from a lengthy injury lay-off before exiting Kaizer Chiefs in South Africa. The former Mamelodi Sundowns winger took the Zimbabwe Castle Premier League by storm, scoring 13 goals and 10 assists and prompting Warriors coach Michael Nees to recall him.
“For someone who hadn’t played football for close to 10 months, it is a great achievement and I am happy that he is using it to help the team perform well and qualify for AFCON,” Bakasa said.
Billiat converts from the penalty spot for the only goal in Zimbabwe's 1-0 victory over Namibia in October.
Warriors coach Michael Nees recalled Billiat in August this year after a lengthy chat with the former Ajax Cape Town forward, who had retired from international football in 2021. Speaking to Zimbabwe’s ZTN Prime television station in August, the German said he considered several factors such as the player’s age, commitment and hunger to represent his nation again.
Video Credit: ZTN Prime YouTube
“We had plenty of time to discuss. I wanted to know the reason for his retirement. I wanted to find out whether he wanted to come back? Is he pressurized by someone else? I concluded that he still has that wish and fire to come back and give everything. Only a very unwise coach would not consider such a player,” Nees told the television station.
Zimbabwe booked their return flight to AFCON after their one-all draw with Kenya was enough ahead of Tuesday’s academic meeting with group leaders Cameroon in Yaoundé. The former Chiefs star provided an assist for Tawanda Maswanhise’s 32nd minute goal for the Nees’ men at Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa where the Harambee Stars responded through Jonah Ayunga in the second half.
Billiat sets up rising Zimbabwe star Tawanda Maswanhise for his first-ever Warriors goal against Kenya on Friday.
The Warriors are playing their matches in neighbouring South Africa due to a lack of certified match venues for the AFCON qualifiers. Zimbabwe have nine points, two points behind the Indomitable Lions going into Tuesday’s contest.
Comments