Contract renewal negotiations between Kaizer Chiefs and Khama Billiat appear to have broken down. According to the South African press, the Zimbabwean striker is ignoring calls and messages from the club.
Billiat ignores Chiefs calls and messages
Khama Billiat was last seen at the Kaizer Chief training centre on 29 June. Since then, there has been no further news from him, even though his contract expired on 30 June. “Billiat was last seen at the Kaizer Chiefs training centre on 29 June and has not responded to any calls or messages sent to him by the club,” said the club in a statement.
Is Billiat sulking about the new offer he has been offered? Or did he not like the fact that it took so long to make him an offer? Either way, Chiefs officials wanted Billiat to go on pre-season training with the club, which is currently in Mbombela under the tutelage of new coach Molefi Ntseki. “The team is currently in training. Billiat, who should be with his team-mates, has not turned up and is currently nowhere to be found,” said the club.
“How can you cut the salary of someone who doesn’t have a contract?”
Since his transfer from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018, Billiat has been a shadow of his former self at Amakhosi. Indeed, he has failed to help the club win a single trophy in five seasons. At Chiefs, he made 125 appearances in all competitions, scoring 24 goals and providing 29 assists,
Despite this below-par performance for his talent, Chiefs have reportedly offered the 33-year-old a new contract if he agrees to a pay cut, given that he is one of the highest-paid players not only at Chiefs but in the PSL.
“Khama is negotiating a new contract with the club. It’s not a pay cut (that is blocking negotiations). How can you cut the salary of someone who doesn’t have a contract? Negotiations are ongoing, and we hope he stays,” explained club manager Bobby Motaung.
