BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
WARRIORS star Khama Billiat capped a fine week after he was named in the Caf Champions League team of the week after a tough year blighted by a combination of injury and loss of form.
Last year, the Kaizer Chiefs attacker was under sustained criticism in South Africa with some even suggesting that his move from Mamelodi Sundowns was a waste of money by AmaKhosi.
The forward, who is one of the highly-paid players in South Africa, naturally divided opinion among football followers after a dip in form. The injury he sustained in January piled more pressure on the star who has endured criticism with some quarters arguing that at 30, he now represents the past.
But barely two weeks after returning from injury, two games in and one goal and the whole picture has changed.
He chose the most important occasion for Chiefs as they sought passage to the Champions League knockout stages to show his class and confound his critics.
His strike that levelled matters in a 2-2 draw against Horoya Athletic Club on Saturday night for Kaizer Chiefs to progress to the quarter-finals of the prestigious Caf Champions League, has earned him a place in the Caf team of the week.
The goal ensured that Chiefs finished second in Group C with nine points, on a head-to-head ruling, level with third-placed Horoya and four points behind group leaders Wydad Casablanca who defeated bottom-place finishers Petro de Luanda 2-0 in the other game.
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That game has dramatically changed the perception of those who criticised him. They now view Billiat as a great player who makes things happen at crucial times.
More importantly, it demonstrates his resilience in the face of adversity.
Billiat, a key member of the Warriors, missed the last two African Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Botswana and Zambia because of injury. The Warriors though qualified with a 1-0 victory over Botswana despite losing 2-0 against Zambia in the last match.
The Warriors forward emerged as the highest scorer in the qualifying matches following his brace in the 2-1 victory over Zambia in the opening match of the campaign last year.
And as the Warriors prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign, he is expected to play a pivotal role.
The Warriors, placed in the same group with South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia begin their campaign with a home tie against Bafana Bafana between June 5 and 8 before travelling to Ethiopia the following week.
The qualifiers resume in September with back-to-back clashes against Ghana in the first week of that month.
Zimbabwe will then travel to South Africa between October 10 and 12 and wrap up their campaign with a home match against Ethiopia the following week.
- Follow Tawanda on Twitter @tafitawa
