Khama Billiat Compared to Benni McCarthy by Former Zimbabwe International

Khama Billiat Compared to Benni McCarthy by Former Zimbabwe International

Jarryd Westerdale
March 14, 2024 at 8:44 AM
In this article:
Kaizer Chiefs logo
Kaizer Chiefs
South Africa
24
Khama Billiat logo
K. Billiat
Kaizer Chiefs logoMZimbabwe logo
Yadah FC logo
Yadah FC
Zimbabwe
Mamelodi Sundowns logo
Mamelodi Sundowns
South Africa
21
B. McCarthy
-FSouth Africa logo
Manchester United logo
Manchester United
England
30
  • Khama Billiat resumed his career in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League
  • A former Zimbabwean international believes he could boost the league's profile
  • Benni McCarthy returned to South Africa after a successful career away from home

Accomplished stars returning home bring a wave of positivity and accompanying knowledge.

Khama Billiat's homecoming has been lauded across the southern African nation as a watershed moment in their footballing evolution.

Former Zimbabwean international, Alois Bunjira, has compared the potential significance of Billiat's return to that of Bafana Bafana's European-based players of the last 20 years.

Khama Billiat, Benni McCarthy, Kaizer Chiefs, Yadah FC, Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League, Alois Bunjira.
Khama Billiat joined Yadah FC in Zimbabwe and a former international hopes it will have a great impact on the nation's continental profile. Photo: Phil Magakoe.
Source: Getty Images

The former Mamelodi Sundowns star began a professional decline after leaving Masandawana.

His unsuccessful spell at Kaizer Chiefs was followed by several months in the wilderness as he searched for a club which could match his personal valuation.

Trials and talks threatened a new adventure, until Harare's Yadah FC came calling. Billiat is said to have taken a pay cut, but the club compensated him with a new Land Rover, as per Briefly.

Bunjira hopes the fanfare around the move could inspire young Zimbabweans and elevate the league's status on the continent.

Listing Benni McCarthy and Eric Tinkler as South Africans who returned home to contribute to their domestic league, SoccerLaduma quoted him as saying:

"It's a good thing for Zimbabwean players to finish their careers in Zimbabwe. It gives the league milage because now we are talking about it. He has given the league the attention it was missing."

Tinkler played for Cagliari and Barnsley in Europe and McCarthy was instrumental for Blackburn Rovers and a UEFA Champions League-winning FC Porto.

McCarthy's stint with Manchester United's coaching staff has put him in good stead in Europe and he has been linked with jobs back in South Africa.

However, he has since stated that he wants to form part of the new generation of coaches in Europe that consists of players he once played against.

Khama Billiat speaks after joining Yadah FC

Sports Brief recently reported on Billiat's comments on moving to the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League.

Billiat left Zimbabwe's CAPS United to join Ajax Cape Town 14 years ago and has returned home with Yadah FC.

Renowned for his contributions to South African football, his return was met with anticipation and excitement.

Authors
Jarryd Westerdale photo
Jarryd Westerdale
Jarryd Westerdale (based in Johannesburg) joined Sports Brief after four years in the community journalism sphere. He is a two-time Alet Roux Award winner and was a finalist in multiple categories at the Forum of Community Journalism Excellence Awards.