ENOCH MUCHINJO
FOOTBALLERS like Khama Billiat are not plucked from trees, or found littering the streets.
They are special, once-in-a-generation talents.
It is for this reason that I was one of those on the other side of the debate, backing new Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees’s decision to talk Billiat out of his premature international retirement.
Khama is 34, so for me, playing for the Warriors again wasn’t about instant results.
That would be only seeing part of the picture, and I’m convinced that the new gaffer also wasn’t as blinkered in his pursuit of this Zimbabwean poster-boy of our times.
Billiat is a proud man, proud of his God-given talents, proud of what he has achieved in his career, and proud of his country.
Because of that, he isn’t selfish to share his knowledge with the younger members of the Zimbabwe team, and he also likes to bounce ideas off teammates.
This is the most important aspect of Billiat’s return to the Warriors fold.
He is a team man, a leader and an inspiration.
And he is still fit and athletic at 34, probably fitter than a lot of players much younger.
He could simply have another three years in the green-and-gold. But outside this, Billiat has had an early impact on his Warriors comeback, by a distance Zimbabwe’s best player in the opening Africa Cup of Nations nil-all draws with Kenya and Cameroon last week in Uganda.
He has been the full package on his return and I don’t think anyone can still question the coach’s wisdom to go out of his way to bring back Khama. A
lot of sportspeople forget that part of their job, if not a big chunk of it, is to entertain.
But not the likes of Khama Billiat.
He understands that role well, and, hasn’t he picked up where he left off in 2022!
There is definitely still some football left in Khama.
Let’s just sit back and enjoy the ride while we still can.
