How Orlando Pirates failed to land ex-Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs star

Orlando Pirates almost signed former Premier Soccer League star Khama Billiat, who eventually joined Mamelodi Sundowns and later Kaizer Chiefs before leaving for Zimbabwe, where he joined Yadah Stars, before Scotland snapped him up.

Before joining Masandawana, Billiat shone for Ajax Cape Town, who later changed their name to Cape Town Spurs. He spent five seasons with the Brazilians, where, apart from winning the league crown, the now 35-year-old was part of the squad that delivered the maiden CAF Champions League trophy.

At Amakhosi, Billiat did not enjoy the success he had yearned for despite spending five years with them.

As a matter of fact, the Soweto giants did not win any major trophy during that period. The management made a decision to part ways with the experienced attacker who wanted improved terms to stay at Naturena.

How Orlando Pirates missed Billiat

During his interview on the Off the Pitch Chat, the Zimbabwe international has now revealed how his proposed move to Bucs didn’t see the light of day.

“So I spent three years at Ajax Cape Town, and in my third year, I returned home to Zimbabwe at the end of the season. And when I returned for the 2013/14 season, I was told that I was at the wrong destination,” Billiat opened up.

“I was told to go to Johannesburg to join Orlando Pirates because the club, Ajax Cape Town, had already agreed to sell me to them. What was left was for me to agree on personal terms, but I said no, because I never wanted to play for Orlando Pirates. I never imagined myself playing for them, maybe because of the experiences I’d heard about former players at the club.

“I wanted to join Mamelodi Sundowns because they wanted me, and I also wanted to play alongside Teko Modise and other stars. That’s how I ended up at Sundowns, but for a moment, a move to Pirates was on the cards.

“At Sundowns, it was tough at first, but my manager, the late Edzai Kasinauyo, told me it would never be easy because it was a new environment, but the reception was overwhelming, and everything went well,” Billiat further explained.