Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane has confirmed that star forward Khama Billiat will miss the MTN8 semi-final first leg against AmaZulu at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Billiat has been nursing an unknown injury, leading him to miss the last two matches, a 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants and the 2-1 victory over SuperSport United before the international break.
However, Zwane said the former Mamelodi Sundowns forward might be fit for the second leg on the 23 October in Durban.
The former Zimbabwe international, interestingly, the last time he ran out for Chiefs was against AmaZulu at the very same venue earlier this month when these two sides played to a goalless draw in the league.
“Khama, surely he’s going to be out for two weeks,” said Zwane after his side lost 4-2 on penalties to Royal AM in the Macufe Cup at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
“It is a question of recovery and he might be available in the second leg. But we are still going to make an assessment this coming week.”
If Billiat does only recover in time ahead of the second leg, it will mean he would have missed eight matches, which will be crucial for Chiefs as Zwane has targeted to get the results against the Usuthu side which are a little bit in disarray with plenty of talks behind the scenes that coach Brandon Truter’s job is under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Chiefs are gunning to win this competition for the first time since the 2014/15 season where they beat their bitter rivals Orlando Pirates in the final in Durban.
Billiat will be also gunning for the first MTN8 trophy in his career. He lost the final with Sundowns in the 2016/17 season against Bidvest Wits.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
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