IT’S all about Khama Billiat in South Africa these days.
WELLINGTON TONI
And he’s worth every million Mamelodi Sundowns paid for the Zimbabwean football star from Ajax Cape Town and he has started repaying the Brazilians.
On Sunday, he scored twice in Sundowns’ 4-0 mauling of Bloemfontein Celtic in the first round of the Telkom Knockout, the second being an assist from fellow countryman Cuthbert Malajila, who played 74 minutes of the match.
There is still no place for veteran holding midfielder Esrom Nyandoro, who has just returned from injury, on the Sundowns bench. There was no place either for Rodreck Mutuma in the Celtic line up.
And the 3-0 loss marked the end of Clinton Larsen as head coach of Celtic, meaning Mutuma will now have to work extra hard to impress the next man in charge, likely Manqoba Mngqithi, who also quit Golden Arrows.
For now, Celtic assistant coach Boebie Solomons will take over in a caretaker capacity. Knowledge Musona was also on target, scoring the third goal as Kaizer Chiefs advanced past Polokwane City 3-0.
Regular Willard Katsande started for Chiefs together with Kingstone Nkhatha.
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Mathew Rusike is not playing for Chiefs as he recovers from injury. Takesure Chinyama, formerly of Orlando Pirates, played just five minutes as Platinum Stars-the MTN8 winners brushed aside Maritzburg United 2-0.
Another club with Zimbabwean players to bite the dust was University of Pretoria, who had goalkeeper Washington Arubi and striker Obadiah Tarumbwa featuring in the 1-0 loss to Moroka Swallows.
Tapuwa Kapini captained AmaZulu to a 2-0 loss to Free State Stars to also bow out of the competition, but the opposition’s coach Steve Komphela was left singing the praises of the Zimbabwe international.
“There was a time when I felt we should have been 1-0 up in the first half, but Kapini kept the score level. He was at his best and I thought he should have won the man of the match,” Komphela said.
On Friday, Bidvest Wits lost 3-2 to Golden Arrows. Wits are home to Denver Mukamba, Tinashe Nengomasha, Benjani Mwaruwari, Thomas Sweswe, who is out after an operation, and Onisimor Bhasera.
In the Zambian MTN/FAZ Premier League, former Railstars and Motor Action left back Zimiseleni Moyo saw his side Zesco United drop two crucial points against Kalulushi Modern Stars at the Nkana Stadium.
The Zimbabwean is a regular at the club and is targeting winning the league and playing the Caf Champions League next season. Nkana Red Devils lead the standings with 48 points, Zesco has 46 while third placed Rangers are on 41.
In Europe, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi was a 46th minute substitute as his Belgian top flight side KV Oostende lost 2-0 to Beveren in their fight against relegation.
Vusa Nyoni could only make the bench for Mons in the same league, but saw no action as his side lost 2-1 to Lierse while Ovidy Karuru was nowhere in sight in OH Leuven’s 1-0 loss to Club Brugge. In Denmark, Quincy Antipas received a yellow card in the 52nd minute and was eventually substituted as Brondby picked up a crucial away point in the 1-1 draw against Nordsjaelland.
Brondby maintained ninth place and are relatively safe from relegation.
In the English Championship, Bradley Pritchard came in in the 57th minute as Charlton Athletic, struggling in 21st position, were held to a 0-0 draw by Blackpool.
