Warriors attacking midfielder Khama Billiat is not slowing down at all.
On Wednesday night he showed why he could be the first Zimbabwean star at Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam when he led Ajax Cape Town to a 1-0 win over Santos.
Amsterdam partly own the South African club and every year, their best player of the season moves to the Netherlands.
Last season, it was Absa Premiership Player of the Year, dribbling wizard Thulani Serero, who has already hit the ground running with some super performances in the Eredivisie.
At the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night, it took Billiat just five minutes to give Ajax three points. Billiat showed his pace as he ran on to Terror Fanteni’s through ball, leaving Pere Ariweriyai for dead before finishing well.
With about 10 minutes to go before the end of the half, Ajax had two chances through Billiat and George Maluleka, but the former shot wildly over the bar and the latter had his shot saved by Sean Roberts.
Khama played a crucial role in Zimbabwe’s 2-1 win over Mali on June 5 at Rufaro Stadium — a win that re-ignited the Warriors chances of qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
He then capped that fine performance with his first goal in Warriors colours in the 2-0 win over Zambia in an international friendly match at Rufaro on August 10.
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On Monday, he will join the rest of the Zimbabwean contingent in camp to prepare for the crucial qualifier against Liberia set for the National Sports Stadium on September 4.
In other matches in the Absa Premiership on Wednesday night, there was still no debut for Willard Katsande at Kaizer Chiefs as the Phefeni Glamour Boys beat Bidvest Wits 2-1 to top the league standings.
Katsande joined Chiefs last week from Ajax Cape Town.
Veteran midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha was the only Zimbabwean in the line-up as Thomas Sweswe, Zhaimu Jambo and new signings Katsande and Lincoln Zvasiya were all sidelined.
Wits goalkeeper, former Warriors and Caps United number one Energy Murambadoro, was beaten by two flying headers from Josta Dladla and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
It was the same case with second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who fielded just one Warrior for just 21 minutes in their 4-0 massacre of Moroka Swallows.
Esrom Nyandoro, Method Mwanjali and Simba Sithole sat out the match while Nyasha Mushekwi came in for double scorer Katlego Mphela in the 79th minute.
Swallows, featuring Oscar Machapa and Gilbert Mapemba, crumbled spectacularly in a 16-minute spell in the second half.
First, in the 50th minute Mphela showed his prowess in front of goal with a fine finish to give his side the lead. Seven minutes later Teko Modise doubled his side’s lead with a classy finish.
The goal of the evening was scored by Musa Nyatama in the 60th minute when his 25-yard thunderbolt found the top right-hand corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance.
Mphela grabbed his second to conclude the goal rout after latching onto an accurate cross from Punch Masenamela to fire the ball home from 12 yards out.
Tapuwa Kapini’s AmaZulu crumbled to a 2-1 loss to SuperSport United. AmaZulu featured two former Gunners players Carlington Nyadombo and former Footballer of the Year Ramson Zhuwawo.
Sunday Chidzambwa recorded his first win of the season when Black Leopards beat Golden Arrows 2-0.
Leopards featured former Zimbabwe international Kingston Nkatha.
Former Township Rollers striker Terrence Mandaza played 79 minutes as Platinum Stars beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1.
