Former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Khama Billiat says Themba Zwane is the most talented player he’s ever played alongside.
Billiat spent 13 years in South Africa, first arriving with Ajax Cape Town from CAPS United and went on to become one of the greatest players in Premier Soccer League history.
His five years at Mamelodi Sundowns saw him win seven titles, including the league three times and the 2016 CAF Champions League, which also saw him lift the PSL Footballer of the Season honour in the same season.
Amidst the incredible success under then coach Pitso Mosimane, Billiat, Keagan Dolly, Leonardo Castro dominated headlines and the likes of Themba Zwane was part of a crop of unheralded stars of that era, which Billiat agreed with in his interview with iDiski Times.
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“Of course, definitely Themba Zwane has always been great. There are games whereby, we would be shocked that Pitso [Mosimane] is not like putting him in the starting eleven. But we had so much quality and you could still spot Themba Zwane’s quality,” he said.
“I have so much respect for him. He has never changed. He’s always been like this. In training, never loses the ball. Great teammate to be around. He makes other people around him look very good. We are not that good, you know (laughs).
“But playing around him makes it easier. Very, very composed. Themba Zwane has never changed. And for me, you could see him, even if you come to training, even if he was not playing, he would give you the same performance even at training. When he comes in, he will change the game every time.
Billiat insisted that Mshishi’s achievements and longevity in the game is no surprise to him based on what he saw during his time at Masandawana.
“[He has] always been the best. For me, he has been always the best. I remember having a conversation with him at some point, kind of talking about the coach, like, ‘Well, why don’t, why doesn’t he play you?’ But like, you know coaches and things are different. But like, Themba has always been Themba.”