Kaizer Chiefs player Willard Katsande has come to the defense of his teammate countryman Khama Billiat who has been under intense scrutiny in recent times over his performance for the club side.
Billiat has scored just one goal and made two assists in 17 Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches for Chiefs. This happens to be his worst return since he made his debut in the PSL in 2010.
Katsande has come to the defense of Billiat stating that his teammate and countryman could be an important player in the team and he has helped the team in other ways.
“I know Khama is a big boy, he’s my little brother and I always spend time with him, always telling him how important he is to the club and the setup,” Katsande said.
“I always tell him, ‘You are our spearhead, you are our best player, so you need to know that you are the best. We are coming from five months without playing football, so obviously there’s a little bit of rust, but what you can do is contribute towards the team.’
“So, at the moment, yes, he’s not getting there where we know him, but look at his contribution to the club and the team, he’s very, very useful and that’s why he’s always selected to play.
“Goals will come, we just need to be patient with him and give him confidence, which is what he needs at the moment, and we will try to put him in a comfortable position whereby all he thinks about is just playing well and helping the team.
“The most important thing, as much as you are a good player, you need to be a team player. So, basically, this guy is a big player but he’s a team player.”
Also, Billiat’s agent Mike Ngobeni defended the performances of his client stating that he needs more time to recover from the five-month break.
Kaizer Chiefs are on the brink of winning their first PSL title in over five years as they top the table with a three-point lead on rivals and defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns.