The Sunday Mail
Makomborero Mutimukulu
Sports Editor
AMID delirium in a crowd convinced what they have just witnessed is a divine moment, the hero soaks it all in: arms outstretched, head nodding and body slowly making a 360 degree turn.
It looks rehearsed. But it isn’t.
Teammates know they should run and embrace their star, but they appear hesistant of breaking the moment.
It’s a celebration that speaks of absolute confidence, arrogance even. It’s a celebration that tells the stunned spectators that what they have just seen is awesome to them but daily bread to star blessed with such talent.
On December 12, 1996 then Manchester United captain Eric Cantona scored a stunner against Sunderland, exchanging passes with Brian McClair before icing it all with a sweet, sweet lob over Lionel Perez.
Old Trafford had just seen magic and erupted into a frenzy. But Cantona, with collar flicked up, was as cool as ice, slowly turning a full 360 degrees with arms outstretched to absorb the applause.
Zimbabwean international midfielder Khama Billiat was just six years and 63-days-old when Cantona gave the world that now iconic celebration.
But last Saturday in Caf Confederations Cup tie between his Mamelodi Sundowns and AS Medeama of Ghana, the Warriors ace brought the past back to life.
Billiat beat the visitor’s goalie with an out-foot volley hit from an impossible angle to give his side the lead for the first time on the night.
Sundowns went on to win 3-1.
It was an audacious strike, one which left the AS Medeama keeper Muntari Tagoe looking clumsy as he scrambled to get back to his line.
As the ball sneaked in at the far post – similar to the manner it went in when Billiat scored the winner in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away in Malawi last year – the Zimbabwean forward transformed into a football god from Harare.
Billiat knew he had done something special, the thousands in at Lucas Moripe stadium knew it too, as did the millions who followed the action on television.
Usually Billiat signs off his goals with the CR7 celebration, or the darb, but this one was too special. It did not need an explosive celebration. The sophistication of the goal demanded simplicity in celebration.
He stood there, silent, absorbing the moment. Then the hands were stretched, the head nodded and a glance sent around the field.
Some sections of the South African media have claimed it was a fluke goal. The Malawi strike was a fluke, but against AS Medeama it was sheer brilliance.
“From where I was standing I could see that the goalie was off his line and there were very few people to aim for in the box so there was only one option and that was to go for goal,” Billiat explained to The Sunday Mail.
“Unlike in Malawi when my cross ended going into the net, this one was a shot at goal and it felt good watching it go in.
You know, when your confidence is high you feel like you can do anything and to be honest right now I feel like I am on top of the world.”
As the Warriors prepare to continue with the journey towards the 2017 Afcon in Gabon, the nation hopes Billiat, who also scored a screamer in Sundowns’ 1-0 win at Wits on Wednesday, stays on point.
When Billiat is in such fine fettle, the Warriors are unstoppable.
