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Fungai Muderere, [email protected]

WHETHER he will be sitting on the bench, in the terraces or he will be in the match day squad, the name Khama Billiat will reverberate in and outside the small but vibrant mining town of Hwange and even beyond on Sunday afternoon.

It won’t matter if one is from Hwange, Lupane, Bulawayo or even as far as Uzumba, every fan who would be at the Colliery Stadium will want to see the short football magician named Billiat when his new side Yadah Stars take on Chipangano in a season opener that is expected to draw a large crowd.

Little kids, women, men will all want to have a glimpse of Billiat — the footballer who captivated the local football scene with an intense battle for his services among clubs such as Dynamos, Manica Diamonds before eventually settling for Yadah Stars.

The move came after spending eight months in the cold struggling to find a new club in the South African Premier Soccer League and Division One.

Left with no choice, he was compelled to head back home in an exciting development for the country’s elite football league.

The former Warriors poster boy, who inked a one-year contract with the Miracle Boys, was unveiled last week Thursday propelling him to the position of the highest-paid player in the local league.

Billiat boasts a celebrated career spanning over 10 years in South Africa, where he showcased his skills with remarkable teams such as Ajax Cape Town, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs.

With the coal miners expecting to welcome the famous ex-Warriors wing maestro, his mother Rosa said it is pleasing that his son decided to retrace home.

“It is pleasing as they would always say home is best. I’m elated that I will now be seeing him now and then. As a family we used to see him play live on television. At times I would go to South Africa to see him play.  He is our son and we are really happy to see him back home,” said Rosa in an interview with Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN). 

Billiat (33) has in recent interviews alluded to the fact that he has been homesick.

Football crazy preacher Prophet Walter Magaya has faith in Billiat and his childhood friend Knowledge Musona reckoning they are still good enough to play for the national team.

It was reported that Magaya said he is considering convincing Billiat and Musona to come out of retirement and wear the gold Zimbabwe Warriors jersey once again.

The Miracle Boys will be playing against a new look Hwange side that is under the guidance of club legend Nation Dube.

Last year, Chipangano made an impressive comeback in the PSL finishing on number nine with 45 points.

However, the club lost the services of veteran goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya, holding midfielder Thabani Goredema, Brendon Rendo and Brighton Makopa among others.

The club has re-united with ex-FC Platinum captain Gift Mbweti who happens to be their biggest signing.

“We are ready for the league to start. We have been working hard at our training sessions and we can’t wait for the league to commence,” said Dube. 

-@FungaiMuderere