Khama's Big Opportunity


ZIMBABWE international star forward Khama Billiat wants to utilize the exposure he will get at the Fifa Club World Cup and the 2017 Afcon finals to push for a long desired overseas move.

Billiat’s Mamelodi Sundowns qualified for the Fifa Club World after they won the Caf Champions League at the expense of Egyptian giants Zamalek in October.

The South African giants, who left for Osaka, Japan on Monday, will open their Fifa Club World Cup campaign on December 11 with a date against either Japanese J-League winners Kashima Antlers or Auckland City of New Zealand.

And the 26-year-old Billiat knows a solid display at the prestigious tournament might open the doors for a long cherished dream.

“I will like to look at it in that way,” he told Kick Off.

The Fifa Club World Cup , which will be staged at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka and the International Stadium in Yokohama, features champions from Korea, Africa, Mexico, Columbia, New Zealand, Spain and hosts Kashima Antlers.

Ronaldo and his Real Madrid will be part of the jamboree.

Billiat was the best player in the South African Premiership last season and put on stellar shows for the Zimbabwe national team which qualified for a third Afcon appearance in the nation’s history.

But a move abroad has been elusive for the diminutive forward with some citing his small frame as the major hindrance to a move to top European leagues.

The 2017 Afcon finals in Gabon is another opportunity for the Aces Youth Soccer Academy product to showcase his talent to a bigger and influential audience.

“This is why I am saying I need to go these tournaments in the best form. I have already worked on certain areas that I think I am weak in because this is a lifetime opportunity which doesn’t come twice,” he told Kick Off.

“You might get it once and if you don’t use it in doing your best it will be a disadvantage to your career.

“I think everyone is looking forward to that, to just be on top of their game. Even myself, I just believe that every game is an opportunity, even those that we play locally, because you never know who is watching.

“If you are on top of your game some people might get interested in you, but yes, it is a bigger tournament and bigger opportunity for us to really bring our best form and see what will happen afterwards.”

Kick Off.com reports that a lot of enquiries have been made for Billiat but Sundwons want it done the official way.

Recently, Italian Serie A giants Napoli were reported to have made an enquiry.

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