Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees has opened up about former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Khama Billiat, suggesting that calling him for national duty is now causing a lot of ‘noise’.
Billiat was a notable absentee when Zimbabwe lost to Benin and Rwanda during the just-ended 2026 FIFA World Cup round of qualifiers. They lost by an identical 1-0 scoreline respectively.
Initially, ZIFA indicated that the 35-year-old was nursing an injury when the squad was announced on 28 August. But surprisingly, after two days, Billiat was on parade for Scottland FC in a match they lost at the hands of Dynamos FC.
In truth, Billiat has been low-key in the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, with one goal under his belt after 27 matches.
Some sections of Zimbabwe’s football fraternity believe Billiat has not done enough to justify selection into the Warriors team.
WHAT MICHAEL NEES SAID ABOUT KHAMA BILLIAT
And after failing to score in the two matches against Benin and Rwanda, Nees took time to highlight why he needs the former PSL star. Nees said he convinced Billiat and goalkeeper Washington Arubi to return to national duties because of specific qualities.
“We must continue to work, we dominated, that’s a good sign, we can really dominate the game completely, like in the second half [against Rwanda].
“But of course, the finishing, the last touch, we must improve. If you remember when I came here, there were two players I recalled. That was Washington Arubi and Khama Billiat.
“And now there’s a lot of noise around Khama, but I think everybody now understands that you need players, especially when the space gets tighter and tighter. We need someone who can make a difference in such situations,” added Nees.
It remains to be seen if the 2016 PSL Player of the Season winner will bounce back in the last round of qualifiers to be played in October against Bafana Bafana and Lesotho. And with the 2025 AFCON finals fast approaching, he will be expected to be at his level best.
RELATED STORY: The reason behind Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat’s reunion