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KHAMA BILLIAT

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
TALENTED Zimbabwe international winger Khama Billiat was yesterday left facing a club-versus-country dispute after Mamelodi Sundowns claimed he was injured and directed he should not be fielded in the Warriors’ clash against Malawi tomorrow.
The Warriors travelled to Blantyre in batches yesterday for an international friendly against the Flames at Kamuzu Stadium with coach Ian Gorowa and the South African-based contingent flying out from Johannesburg to the Malawian capital at lunch-time.

Assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku, the rest of the technical crew and the locally-based players left Harare by road around 3am yesterday in order to link with their teammates in Blantyre ahead of their two practice sessions in Malawi today.

Gorowa last Friday named a 17-man squad for the international friendly, which falls on the Fifa date for friendly internationals.

But the Warriors coach will have to make a decision on whether or not to use Billiat after it emerged that Sundowns had declined to clear the winger to play, claiming that the forward was still to recover from an injury he had sustained on February 21.

The Warriors will also be without the only Europe-based player that Gorowa had included — Costa Nhamoinesu — who is now plying his trade for Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic.

Sundowns indicated that although they would release Billiat to the Warriors, they were not sanctioning the use of the player against the Flames on the basis that the young forward was still injured.

“We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 26 February 2014, requesting the release of our player,” wrote Sundowns administration manager Belinda Ndlovu.

“Please be advised that Khama Billiat is currently injured after suffering a left foot bone fracture during our match against Ajax Cape Town on 21 February 2014.

“Kindly note that we will release the player as requested in line with Fifa regulations and we request that you return him to us immediately after assessing him so that he may continue with his rehabilitation and recovery.

“Attached is his X-Ray report and medical report from our team doctor for your records. Your understanding and co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated.”

Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said while they had taken note of Sundowns’ letter they would leave the decision on whether or not to field Billiat to coach Gorowa and team doctor Nick Munyonga.

“We have confirmed receipt of their letter and also advised them that Khama, like all the other players, will be assessed by our national team doctor who will consult with the national coach and they will make a decision on whether Khama plays or not.

“The good thing is that they did not hold onto the player and now it is up to our team to make their own professional judgment,’’ Gwesela said.

Gorowa had earlier on Sunday learnt with concern from his base in Johannesburg that three of his local contingent — Kuda Mahachi, Milton Ncube and Peter Moyo — had been injured in a car accident in Kadoma while on their way to Harare from Bulawayo for the Warriors camp.

He drafted in CAPS United’s Zimbabwe youth international Ronald Pfumbidzai as cover for the left back position.

Gwesela said the three players, who also turn out for Bulawayo giants Highlanders, had been treated and discharged from hospital before making the road trip together with their fellow locals with the local contingent arriving safely in Malawi.

The Zifa communications manager denied that there had been a request, too, from South African champions Kaizer Chiefs on the release and use of the trio of Willard Katsande and strikers Knowledge Musona and Kingston Nkatha.

Gwesela, however, said given the time left before tomorrow’s match between the Warriors and the Flames, it was certain that Nhamoinesu, who has often played hide-and-seek with the national team, would not make it to Malawi.

Krula Josef, Sparta sports secretary said his club could not release Nhamoinesu for “several technical reasons’’.

“With apologies we would like to inform you that your letter regarding the release of player Nhamoinesu Costa for the friendly match Malawi-Zimbabwe to be played on 5 March 2014, we received an e-mail on Sunday March 2, when there is no working day so it was not possible to immediately respond to this.

“Today on March 3, 2014, we immediately discussed the contents of your letter and we are turning to you with a request in this case to accept the apology of absence of the player in the aforementioned match.

“For this excuse there are several technical reasons.

“We want to assure you that we appreciate our mutual co-operation and we want to make sure that in the case of further nominations your requests will be positively dealt with,’’ wrote Josef.

Warriors squad:
Washington Arubi, Tafadzwa Dube, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Milton Ncube, Eric Chipeta, Peter Moyo, Danny Phiri, Pascal Manhanga, Kuda Mahachi, Ali Sadiki, Gift Bello, Willard Katsande, Khama Billiat, Carlington Nyadombo, Knowledge  Musona, Kingston Nkatha.