FORMER Kaizer Chiefs defender Thomas Sweswe has urged Amakhosi players to give star midfielder Khama Billiat morale support to get back to his usual best after a dip in form arguing that the former Warriors forward remains a central figure in the club’s chase for honours.
Billiat’s season has been blighted by Injuries and inconsistency — a form which has seen him managing just one goal and two assists in 12 league appearances, stretching back to the previous term.
The former Warriors forward who retired from international football last year, has missed the last two league games having last played a part in the 0-0 draw against AmaZulu.
The unforgiving Amakhosi fans and some former players have been highly critical of the 32-year-old Zimbabwean international as they believe he has not delivered to expectation.
Billiat is one of the highest paid players at Kaizer Chiefs on a staggering R890 000 per month. And his critics have pointed out that he has failed to justify the huge salary as he did at Sundowns, where he won individual awards plus seven major trophies with the club.
He was also named the 2016 PSL Player of the Year. Kaizer Chiefs legend Willard Katsande recently also backed Billiat to get back on track.
“I know Khama is a big boy, he’s my little brother and I always spend time with him, always telling him how important he is to the club and the set-up,” Katsande said in an interview with KickOff.com.
“I always tell him, ‘You are our spearhead, you are our best player, so you need to know that you are the best. We are coming from five months without playing football, so obviously there’s a little bit of rust, but what you can do is contribute towards the team.’
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“So, at the moment, yes, he’s not getting there where we know him, but look at his contribution to the club and the team, he’s very, very useful and that’s why he’s always selected to play.
“Goals will come, we just need to be patient with him and give him confidence, which is what he needs at the moment, and we will try to put him in a comfortable position whereby all he thinks about is just playing well and helping the team.
“The most important thing, as much as you are a good player, you need to be a team player. So, basically, this guy is a big player but he’s a team player.”
Meanwhile, Billiat widely regarded as one of the finest players playing his football in Africa has been named in the Total Energy Caf Champions League Team of the decade in a Twitter poll. South African forward Percy Tau is also part of the team.
CAF Champions League Team of the Decade
Goalkeeper: Denis Onyango (Uganda)
Defenders: Ahmed Fathi (Egypt), Wael Gomaa (Egypt), Stopilia Sunzu (Zambia) Ali Maalol (Tunisia) Midfielders: Hossam Ashour (Egypt), Hossam Ghaly (Egypt)
Forwards : Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe), Walid Soliman (Egypt), Percy Tau (South Africa), Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania).
Follow Tawanda on Twitter @tafitawa
