Billiat is Sundowns’ standout player

Hosea Ramphekwa says Khama Billiat is the conductor of Mamelodi Sundowns's orchestra.

Hosea Ramphekwa says Khama Billiat is the conductor of Mamelodi Sundowns's orchestra.

Published Mar 18, 2015

Share

There are few greater sights than Khama Billiat on song.

The conductor of Mamelodi Sundowns’s orchestra can make the hearts of those on his side sing, while giving their opponents the blues.

It’s no surprise that the Zimbabwean playmaker has been the heartbeat of Sundowns’s recent resurgence. With several assists, and four goals in three matches, Billiat seems to have found his rhythm, something Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and the fans have been yearning to see.

With his darting runs and fancy footwork with the ball, before leaving defenders for dead en route to creating or scoring goals, Billiat inspires songs of hope among Downs players, who are desperate to catch up with log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, whome they trail by eight points.

Though he is in terrific form, Billiat refuses to blow his own trumpet. The player, whose individual brilliance has made a massive difference to his side’s fortunes this season, should be beating his chest with pride. However, that’s not the case with thiss lad from Harare.

“I will only be happy if we win the league,” said the 24-year-old.

Billiat’s employers, coaches, teammates and fans should be happy with his efforts, which saw him mesmerise Free State Stars, outshine Polokwane City and stun TP Mazembe, but the former Ajax Cape Town wing king is not resting on his laurels.

“I have never been satisfied with my performances. I always want to do better and improve. I want to score as many goals as I can, so I can help my team do well. There’s always room for improvement, so I need to keep on going.

“Credit must go to the team. We have been fighting. We always make sure that we win, even if we have to win by 1-0.

“We never give up,” said Billiat, who has scored nine goals in all competitions.

Sundowns, who are in second position with 43 points, were on track to catch up with log leaders Chiefs. However, Bidvest Wits put a spanner in the works by subjecting them to a 1-0 defeat. Billiat said the loss to Wits made them intensify their efforts in a bid to retain their Absa Premiership title.

“The Wits loss was a wake-up call for us. It had to happen. After that we came together. We worked for one another. We wanted to achieve one goal.

“We work hard and we are focusing on ourselves. We are not focusing on how things are around us. We need to collect points on our own.

“You can only win the league if you have collected maximum points. We need to do that on our own. No one is going to do us favours,” Billiat said.

“The good thing is that everyone is on top of his game – even the guys who are not playing. When they come in, it doesn’t affect the team that much. We have a good team.”

Sundowns fans will be hoping Billiat strikes the right chords when they host Chippa United in a league clash at Loftus Versfeld tonight.

Chippa have been struggling this year – they have not won in 11 games. Against this background, the Brazilains should have no problem walking away with maximum points. However, Billiat sounded a warning.

“The fact that they have not been winning is going to make them work extra hard. They wouldn’t want to lose. It’s going to be a difficult game.

“We are all ready. Tonight we are going to go out and stick to what we have been doing well.”

With Billiat’s frightening pace, dribbling wizardry, sublime passes, spectacular goals and superb celebrations, Sundowns’s song of hope has no end in sight. - The Star

Related Topics: