Khama Billiat in action for Kaizer Chiefs before his injury. Image: @KickOffMagazine / Twitter
OPEN LETTER to Kaizer Chiefs star Khama Billiat: Let’s chat numbers
Khama Billiat has reached a crossroads in his Kaizer Chiefs career. He shouldn’t give up on the Naturena club just yet though.
Khama Billiat in action for Kaizer Chiefs before his injury. Image: @KickOffMagazine / Twitter
Khama Billiat has enjoyed a stellar career in top-flight South African football, but an underwhelming Kaizer Chiefs tenure threatens to tarnish his fine PSL legacy.
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BILLIAT’S PSL CAREER IN A NUTSHELL
BILLIAT AT AJAX
The young Zimbabwean was an electric prospect who even earned the praise of Man United’s legendary ex-defender Rio Ferdinand. That was after Ajax faced the Red Devils in a 2021 friendly. 23 goals in 92 appearances at a rate of exactly 0.25 goals per game (a very healthy return for a young player) paved the way for a move to PSL giants, Mamelodi Sundowns. Billiat also claimed 24 assists for the Mother City side in that time.
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BILLIAT PEERLESS AT SUNDOWNS
48 goals in 144 appearances for the Brazilians was by far Billiat’s best strike ratio throughout his career. 0.34 goals per game is a respectable goal-scoring rate for a man who operated mainly in wide areas or behind a conventional striker, and this was most certainly the peak of Billiat’s career from a personal and physical perspective. He also scooped three DStv Premiership titles and the 2015 CAF Champions League in a glittering five-year spell with Masandawana. At Sundowns, Billiat was arguably the best player in the country and was justifiably named 2016 PSL Player of the Season. Add 43 assists into the mix and this guy was a complete attacker.
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BILLIAT WITH KAIZER CHIEFS
Khama’s 24 goals and 29 assists in 126 appearances for Chiefs mean he’s been directly contributing to 0.42 goals per game for the Glamour Boys. Contrast that with his stats for Sundowns, where his direct output was 0.64 goals per game. The numbers don’t really lie, and not all of that can be attributed to him being surrounded by better players at Chloorkop.
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PLEA TO BILLIAT
You’ve graced the top-flight of South African football with undoubted quality throughout an illustrious career. Go to another top-flight side and make Kaizer Chiefs regret their decision to let you go.
Meanwhile, hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game of football.
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