Former PSL Footballer of the Season Khama Billiat looks set to cause problems for Bafana Bafana when Zimbabwe face their southern neighbours in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.
Billiat says Zimbabwe are not in South Africa to give Bafana an easy match, but rather to compete and provide a tough test by sticking to coach Michael Nees’s game plan.
Zimbabwe are already out of contention for World Cup qualification, sitting bottom of Group C with four points from eight matches.
Bafana, meanwhile, are second with 14 points, level with Benin, who top the group on goal difference.
Benin recently moved into first place after FIFA docked three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their March qualifier against Lesotho. The governing body also awarded Lesotho a 3–0 victory, allowing Benin to leapfrog Bafana on the log.
Despite Zimbabwe’s slim prospects, Billiat insists morale in the Warriors’ camp is high.
“The chemistry is good. Most of the guys are in camp, and the most important thing is to gel together in a short space of time,” said Billiat, who lifted the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2015/16 season.
“So far, so good.”
Zimbabwe have been camping in Durban since Sunday, with captain Marshall Munetsi—who plays for Wolves in England—joining the squad on Monday.
Bafana Bafana, on the other hand, are only expected to arrive in Durban on Thursday, after completing their preparations in Johannesburg.
It remains to be seen whether training at altitude in Johannesburg will benefit Bafana, given that Durban’s coastal conditions present a different challenge.
“We are training very well,” added Billiat, who enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Sundowns, winning three league titles, the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup, the CAF Champions League, and the CAF Super Cup between 2013 and 2018.
“We’re looking good, and our combinations are improving. We just need to keep focusing and working together. We trust everyone here and are committed to following what the coach wants so that we’ll be ready on the day.”
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