Khama Billiat disappointed to miss Liberia clash

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Jun 09, 2017. 10:00

In the wake of his unavailability to represent his country in their opening 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia, Zimbabwean striker Khama Billiat has expressed disappointment.

The Mamelodi Sundowns player arrived in Zimbabwe on Wednesday with the former Warriors player, Peter Ndlovu, who is also the Mamelodi Sundowns team manager.

Ndlovu went to the country to clarify Billiat's injury as the Zimbabwean Football Association insisted that he blocked the player from honouring the call-up.

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The move follows the spat between ZIFA and the CAF Champions League winners as the FA threatened to write to SAFA regarding the player's release.

However, Billiat said he is disappointed to miss the opportunity to represent Norman Mapeza's men in a crucial encounter on Saturday.

Billiat suffered an ankle injury during their 2016/17 penultimate Absa Premiership tie against Maritzburg United and missed Sundowns' two CAF Champions League matches against AS Vita and Esperance.

“I am so disappointed. If there was anything I could do to be fit and play, I would play any day but sadly its not in my control,”' said Billiat to the News Day.

“I always want to represent my country, I feel like I have so much to offer the nation,” he told reporters yesterday.

“For me to be on the list makes me want to play because there are so many Zimbabweans that are very good, but I am getting a chance to represent my country.

“I want to say good luck to the nation. I believe we didn’t do what we wanted to do in the last AFCON finals but we can still be better this time around.”