Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat has revealed what he told Yusuf Maart ahead of his wonder goal from his own half in the Soweto Derby against Orlan
Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat has revealed what he told Yusuf Maart ahead of his wonder goal from his own half in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates.
Billiat, 32, has been struggling somewhat this season, having collected just three assists so far. However, he was massively involved in Maart’s deciding goal in the Soweto Derby.
Many saw that he won the ball back for his side before Maart beat Siyabonga Mpontshane from his own half, but what many didn’t know is that Billiat also told his teammate about the position of the Pirate goalkeeper.
“So this is what happened, when we were playing first half, Maart was always trying to pass to me and as a striker of course I’m always checking the goalkeeper, I’m always checking where I am, where the opponents are,” he said on the latest Ringa Nathi episode on Kaizer Chiefs TV.
“So first half he passed to me but when I looked back I saw the goalkeeper was off his line, like way… I went to him and I said ‘before you pass to me, check the goalkeeper, you might have to hit it, you know’.
“It’s just the heat of the moment, I’m just telling him, I never thought he took it, honestly. I just thought I’m telling him, it’s just another option for him and all that.
“I went again at half-time telling him ‘did you see how far this goalkeeper is coming?’ He said ‘yeah, yeah, I saw it’. And I said ‘let’s try, whoever gets the chance’.
“When I saw an opponent getting the ball I was like we have to press here, because the goalkeeper he is out of his goal, he won’t get there. When we went to press and they lost the ball, because he is intelligent, very great technique that he has, he hit it.
“I didn’t think he took it, it was just a football conversation. Sometimes you see a lot of things and then boom 90 minutes is over.”
The goal saw Chiefs pick up three points in the derby and climb above their bitter rivals on the log before the FIFA World Cup break.
The Amakhosi return to action on 31 December when they will face Golden Arrows at 15:30.
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