Baxter issues important Billiat injury update Khama Billiat

KAIZER Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is confident that star attacker Khama Billiat will be ready for the new season after an injury scare saw him being pulled out of last Sunday’s Carling Black Label Cup pre-season match against arch-nemesis Orlando Pirates.

Amakhosi won on penalties after the match ended goalless in regulation time.

Given that the 30-year-old missed 26 games in all competitions through injury last season, it is understandable why the club’s fans feared the worst when he hobbled off the pitch on Sunday.

However, Baxter revealed that withdrawing the talisman was only a precautionary measure, especially with the commencement of the season just 10 days away.

“Khama was a precaution, you know Khama has been out for a long time,” Baxter said.

Baxter admits that Billiat was rushed back to be fit in time for the club’s crucial Caf Champions League final against Al Ahly last month, but thankfully he had only suffered from a bout of cramp on Sunday rather than aggravating the injury that had sidelined him last season.

“He came back, and we rushed him in a way to be available for the (Caf Champions League) final. He was sharp in the training leading up to the final and I was tempted to start him, but he hadn’t played any games, so it was probably wise not to give him more than a half.

“But we had planned that Khama would come in at half time and as it turned out, it was with 10-men, but Khama’s injury was not the injury that he came off with. He started cramping badly, which was an indication that fatigue was setting in, and we didn’t want the hamstring to or the groin to pop so we took him (out) even though it was an important game, we took him out,” Baxter added.

Indications are that Billiat should be ready for Chiefs’ opener on August 14 against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8. – Soccer Laduma

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