Johannesburg – When footballers are known by abbreviations or initials instead of their full names, chances are they are en route to claiming a place in their club’s folklore.
Remember DK, JD, JJ, KK and ZZ gracing the football pitch. More recently, we’ve had CR7 and MSN in Spain.
In South Africa, this season saw the inspirational CBD make their mark.
CBD reigned supreme as they lifted Mamelodi Sundowns to their seventh league title.
CBD, a tripartite combo comprising Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly, terrorised all and sundry in the PSL as Sundowns bagged two trophies – the league and Telkom Knockout.
“CBD is one of the combinations that Sundowns supporters will never forget. CBD was very dangerous. They mesmerised defenders. They attacked and scored goals. No other team could match the CBD. They worked hard for us. I am very proud of them,” said Sundowns legend Daniel Mambush Mudau.
Though Sundowns stood out as a team, the individual brilliance of Castro, Billiat and Dolly went a long way to delivering the Holy Grail for the Brazilians.
Castro, the Columbian, Billiat, the Zimbabwean and Dolly, the South African, have scored more than 50 percent of Sundowns’ goals in all competitions this season, and this included 24 of the team’s league goals.
They also scored in the Telkom Knockout, CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup.
In the league, Castro and Billiat scored 10 goals each while Dolly chipped in with four. The trio also accounted for a number of assists that led to goals scored by other teammates.
Mudau, who is Sundowns’ all-time leading scorer with 172 goals, says it was a joy to watch Castro, 26, Billiat, 26, and Dolly, 23, lead Sundowns to victory on several occasions.
“Castro knows how to play inside the box. He has skill and can sneak out. Billiat is marvellous to watch. He has everything – skill, pace, power and can run for 90 minutes. He is just amazing. Dolly is like (Lionel) Messi, not scared of those big defenders. Even when they kick him, he still takes them on. He has the ability to shoot and score important goals,” said Mudau, who won several league titles with Sundowns.
Not only did the CBD put fear in their opponents, they also inspired their teammates to raise their game. When the team faced tough times, captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele said the CBD will “come through for us”.
“You know with the CBD we will always score. They will do their thing,” said Mphahlele.
They made things happen for the Brazilians.
Dolly and Billiat worked the flanks with their speed and skills. They would eliminate defenders with relative ease, providing scoring opportunities for Castro and other teammates.
Castro has a high work-rate. With superb ball retention, aerial abilities, skill and an eye for goal, the man from Bogota was a constant threat to defenders.
What also worked for Pitso Mosimane’s side was that Dolly and Billiat could play anywhere in attack – wing or centre-forward.
“We can’t ignore CBD. They have done very well. They have been brilliant. They brought big games. I told CBD, you want to win the league and be serious this year, don’t tell me about us scoring goals against Free State Stars, score against Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and they scored against Chiefs and Pirates, which is quality. That’s where they need to deliver,” said Mosimane.
Billiat said there was a lot of planning and communication in the background as they plotted the demise of other teams and the rise of the Brazilians.
“It has been great. We came to a point where we understood each other. We kind of talked more off the field which helped. We watched videos and explained to each other what we should do next. It’s been great working together. And finally it paid off and we are league champions,” said Billiat, arguably the best player in the PSL this season.
The CBD will be engraved in the hearts of Sundowns supporters for many years to come.