The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
DESPITE Zimbabwe coach Zdravko “Loga’’ Logarusic provisionally including Khama Billiat in his squad, his Kaizer Chiefs counterpart, Gavin Hunt, has cast huge doubts that the talismanic forward would be fit again for the Warriors epic Africa Cup of Nations qualifying assignments in March.
Loga has opted to name an enlarged squad for Zimbabwe’s back-to-back Group H qualifying encounters against Botswana on March 22 in Gaborone and at home against Zambia eight days later.
The Croat is optimistic that the injured Billiat would have recovered in time to lead the Warriors attack in those matches in which second-placed Zimbabwe must avoid any slip-up in the race to secure the second qualifying slot from the group.
African champions, Algeria, have already sealed their place at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations after garnering 10 points to lead Group H with two rounds of matches to play.
The Warriors are a point ahead of Botswana who have four and who themselves lead bottom placed Zambia by a point.
It is against this background that Loga is hoping to have the strongest possible side he can assemble in order for the Warriors to secure a result in Gaborone that could either see them qualify or edge closer to qualification.
However, Billiat’s Kaizer Chiefs coach Hunt, insists the Amakhosi and Warriors talisman still needs time to come back to full fitness.
The 30-year-old Billiat suffered a leg fracture during Amakhosi’s defeat to Maritzburg United last month and his availability for the crucial ties, as well as that of attacking partner and skipper Knowledge Musona, remains shrouded in uncertainty as the latter is also nursing an injury.
But the Zimbabwean camp will be hoping the duo of Billiat and Musona recover in time for the last two qualifiers.
However, in the case of Billiat, that might not be, if Hunt’s words are anything to go by.
Speaking ahead of Amakhosi’s CAF Champions League clash against Horoya Athletic Club of Guinea, which ended goalless on Wednesday, Hunt revealed that Billiat still needs time to recover.
“He is pretty much doing non-weight bearing training which is basically upper body strength staff. Hopefully we get him back in good health again but it’s gonna be sometime,” explained Hunt.
The Warriors are already facing a huge challenge should the Covid-19-induced travel restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States persist as they would scupper the availability of the likes of the Marvelous Nakamba, Tendai Darikwa, Jordan Zemura and Martin Mapisa.
