Kaizer Chiefs risk losing Khama Billiat to Mamelodi Sundowns – report

Kaizer Chiefs striker Khama Billiat could be on his way back to Mamelodi Sundowns if the latest rumour mill in South African football circles is to be believed.

Soccer newspaper Soccer Laduma reported on Tuesday that the two clubs are in discussion and that should the move come about the fee will break the PSL transfer record.

Zimbabwean Billiat, who started his career at Ajax Cape Town, and subsequently rose rapidly to fame at Sundowns, was the PSL’s Player of the Year in 2016.

He joined Chiefs in 2018, but there has been feverish speculation that Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane wants to lure the Zimbabwean attacker back to Pretoria.

According to the newspaper, there have already been talks between Chiefs and Sundowns to discuss the viability of the transfer.

At this stage, neither club is prepared to reveal anything. All that has been forthcoming has been denials.

Losing Billiat will certainly be a big blow for Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp, especially because he faces a major battle to turn around the Soweto club’s fortunes this season.

In an interview with KickOff magazine, when asked about the Billiat rumour, the German coach said:

“I was never confronted with any offer or whatever. And there’s no way to give the go-ahead from the technical team at the moment to release players like Khama Billiat.”

Ernst Middendorp

Billiat is in demand, though. It has already also been reported that Chiefs turned down a R27-million offer from Egyptian side Zamalek.

If that’s too little, and Amakhosi are holding out for even more, then there’s no doubt that the hefty cheque book of Sundowns owner Patrice Motsepe will be able to come up with the right amount.

At the moment, it’s all just talk and speculation, but as the saying goes: watch this space.

African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Herman Gibbs