BY FORTUNE MBELE
WARRIORS attacker Khama Billiat’s frequent injuries are worrying coach Zdravko Logarušic as the Group G Fifa World Cup qualifier against South Africa approaches.
The Warriors talisman aggravated an injury sustained in January and hobbled out of his side Kaizer Chiefs’ 2-0 win over champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the 43rd minute at Loftus Versfeld at the weekend and missed the home 1-0 defeat to Chippa United on Wednesday.
Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare yesterday said the senior national team’s technical department was concerned about Billiat’s continued absence due to injury and they have asked Kaizer Chiefs to update them on the star’s condition and progress.
“It is sad for the Warriors considering that he (Billiat) has been a key figure in the national team and he missed the Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations] qualifiers due to injury. As the technical team, we are worried, but we have requested the Kaizer Chiefs doctor to send us his (Billiat’s) medical report so we see how we take it from there. We gather he is going to undergo a scan,” he said.
“Anyone would have wanted Billiat to be part of the Warriors’ squad for the World Cup qualifiers, but these things do happen. It’s part of the game. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope he would have fully recovered for the qualifiers.”
On Wednesday after the loss to Chippa United, Amakhosi gaffer Gavin Hunt was also worried about Billiat’s injury.
Hunt confirmed Billiat suffered the injury on the same leg as in January when he sustained a leg bone crack in a 2-0 loss in the DStv Premiership encounter against Maritzburg United.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I am not sure. He’s got a kick on the same leg that he broke, so it’s not good. With us playing every two or three games, if you miss two or three weeks, he is going to miss a lot of games again. I am not sure what the diagnosis is there, but he certainly was not walking well. Well, he couldn’t walk really,” Hunt said.
Billiat missed the Afcon qualifier ties against Botswana and Zambia last month following the injury in January and the two games were also missed by a number of other foreign-based Warriors, including Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere, and Marshall Munetsi, curtailed by COVID-19 safety protocols at their respective stations.
Meanwhile, with local football set to return with a cluster tournament for Premier Soccer League clubs on May 15, Mpandare said he was hopeful some players could be considered for the World Cup qualifiers.
He said Logarušic and his lieutenants would be monitoring the local games as they begin.
“We have one or two players that are part of the team already and obviously when the local game starts, the coaches will be monitoring players that will be playing locally for consideration. It is unfortunate that they have not been playing. We hope some players will be considered,” Mpandare said.
Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda was part of the Afcon squad that played Botswana and Zambia to qualify for the finals.
The local football league has been inactive for over a year.
Follow Fortune on Twitter @FortuneMbele
