KENYA national football team coach Engin Firat is losing sleep over the return of Zimbabwe’s star forward Khama Billiat, who is set to mark a return to international football when the two nations clash in a Group J Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uganda tomorrow.
Billiat returns after retiring from international matches three years ago.
He is expected to play a key role in the Warriors’ opening match before they clash with Cameroon at the same venue next week.
Kenya’s coach Firat has been monitoring the Zimbabwe camp and is wary of the threat posed by Billiat.
“You saw Zimbabwe has no squad problems. All players are fit, all of them are back. Not only this, even players who didn’t come before, they came back, like Khama Billiat, who is a very good player, someone who [came out of] retirement and also other players together with a new coach [Michael Nees],” Firat said.
“He has the possibility to get them back, so they will come with a very strong squad, we know it. But we know this team also, so, therefore, it will be very tough. We will see.”
Billiat cannot wait to get going in his second coming.
“This call-up means a lot to me, to represent our great country, Zimbabwe against Kenya and Cameroon,” he said yesterday.
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“This is very important to me and I hope we’ll do very well with our new coach. We’re looking forward, he is a great man.
“It [the preparations] has been great so far, and we’re feeling confident.”
The former Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs star has only worked with Nees for a few days, but is already optimistic of a bright future.
“He [Nees] is a great man, I have spent some time with him and we getting along very well,” he said.
“The guys are also feeling confident and well-motivated. I think it’s going to be a great journey.”
Zimbabwe will miss the services of defender Brendan Galloway and striker Tino Kadewere, who are out due to injuries.
Kenya also have injury concerns and the coach is hoping that they can avoid defeat in their two matches in this window.
Meanwhile, the Warriors Group J rivals Cameroon are in dire straits, with the squad called up for the matches against Namibia and Zimbabwe having failed to report for camp by yesterday.
An Under-20 side had been put on standby in case the standoff between players and the federation has not been resolved.
It was not clear by late yesterday whether the impasse had ended.
Cameroon are scheduled to take on Namibia tomorrow in their first match of the campaign.
The country’s federation, led by legend Samuel Eto’o, reported of unrest in the camp via a statement.
“People with malicious intentions have taken advantage of the resources of the State to put on a disgraceful show for the whole world, tarnishing the image of our country and exposing the players to the sanctions provided for in the Players’ Statutes and Transfer Regulations,” the statement read.
“The instigators of these punishable acts in the course of the two aforementioned matches will be held accountable and will sooner or later assume full responsibility for all the damage they have done to our country.”
The federation demanded that the players report for camp yesterday morning in Doula.
“It should be clearly understood that the 24 players duly summoned by the national coach are expected to arrive no later than 8 a.m on September 4.
“Failure to comply with this requirement, will result in FECAFOOT taking all its responsibilities without hesitation."
Zimbabwe will first face Kenya in Uganda tomorrow before they host Cameroon at the same venue since they do not have a Caf-certified stadium in the country.
