Kaizer Chiefs communications manager Vina Maphosa has rejected to claims that Khama Billiat has gone “AWOL”, saying he is currently not contracted to the club but they would like to have clarity on his future.
Billiat, 32, saw his Amakhosi contract come to an end on 30 June, which means he is currently a free agent and could join any club he chooses.
Chiefs published a statement over the weekend, confirming that they have offered their former star player a new deal before his old contract had expired, but Billiat hasn’t responded to any calls since 29 June when he was last seen at Naturena village.
Maphosa has now given clarity on Billiat’s situation, saying the player has not gone “AWOL” (absent without an official leave), because he is currently not contracted to the club.
“It’s a very technical situation and actually awkward to call it ‘AWOL’ when the contract has expired on the 30th but our concern is on humanitarian grounds, that wherever he is he is safe,” he said, as per Thabiso Mosia on Radio2000.
“Khama is a marquee player and a very important player we’ve had in recent times. Remember when we signed him he not only dubbed ‘marquee’, he was dubbed ‘the biggest coup’ of the transfer window.
“He is, of course, a very important player that we wish could be on the table with us to express his concerns and we close the chapter on good terms, if we have to close it.
“Where we’re standing and you will understand the matters of negotiation are behind closed doors, the merit of discussions and the offer we’ve put on the table are neither here nor there because we’re dealing with a party that is obviously not there to talk for himself to the club.
“The player is nowhere to be found, but he was offered a contract – so that’s where we stand.”
Maphosa also explained that Billiat initially did arrive for the resumption of Chiefs’ pre-season, even though he reported sick before the team left for their current camp.
“Khama reported for duty when we started this current pre-season, he was there, he did the medical test, he took part in the light training sessions,”
“Just as we were about to leave for camp, Khama was expected to come and be part of the pre-season camp. That’s the expectation from the club.
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“I can also reveal that the last time he reported sick as well at the training and he didn’t take part in the training with us at the village.
However, Maphosa also confirmed that Billiat is not obliged to turn up for training, because his contract has expired by 30 June.
“I need to put that to rest, without a contract he is not obliged [to take part in training],”
“As a professional outfit that we are, we just expect him to respond.
“The intention was to keep him, but at this stage we’re talking in past tense because the negotiations have been abandoned at this stage.”