Legendary former Zimbabwe international Peter Ndlovu has spoken glowingly of Khama Billiat‘s ability, but admits the Mamelodi Sundowns forward needs to rediscover his focus.
Billiat’s contract with the Brazilians expires in June next year and at present his future is unclear.
A year ago there had been talk of him making a move to Europe after he had proved hugely influential in helping the Pretoria club win the CAF Champions League and was crowned as the Premier Soccer League’s Player of the Season.
But he has been unable to hit the same heights throughout 2017 and, while there is apparent interest from a club in Saudi Arabia, talk of Europe has gone quiet.
Ndlovu, who is now the team manager at Sundowns, has no doubt about the player’s ability, but feels the former Caps United and Ajax Cape Town player is not currently fulfilling his potential.
“Of course Khama he is a world class player, let me put it that way. Once he puts his act, once he puts his mind onto his football, you cannot touch Khama,” Ndlovu told The Herald.
“Khama reminds me of Lingard at Manchester United. His skills, his penetration, his dribbling, he is an amazing player, I tell you. He just needs to sort the other part that’s lingering around him.
“I have encouraged him to do the right things, he knows the right things; whether he is going or not.”
Ndlovu cautioned Billiat to continue working at hard at Sundowns while he remains at the club, and adds that the Tshwane team will not stand in his way should good offers come in.
“But before he goes, he is a Sundowns player and must take care of what happens during that period (and anything can happen).
“The club would have gained on the sales (a year ago), but look we needed Khama as a club, he can always go. Sundowns are not a team that doesn’t help you go.
“If you are doing well and want to go, as long as the fee is right, that’s normal. He has to be sold if under contract. But now coming into a difficult situation, where we don’t know where we are.”
Ndlovu, a former Sundowns striker himself, is concerned that the success Billait has enjoyed over the last few years may have gone to his head somewhat.
“He has performed but I also think he has a lot on his mind and we have tried to help him and hopefully he will come right,” Ndlovu added. “But he has to help himself first before we help him.
“When you win [awards], it comes with pressure, and you need help whoever you are. One you have to make sure you try and do better the following season.
“But I don’t think we plan as players, we just think it’s easy. But it’s not. Once you have done it and have done well, it is always hard to maintain.
“But my advice is people like Khama should learn because they are not young anymore, he understands. He is my boy and I always speak to him about it and he knows. I have told him how I treated football.”-Sports24
