Warriors talisman Khama Billiat, who saved the best for the last in the Warriors win over lowly ranked Somalia at the giant National Sports Stadium yesterday has dedicated the team’s win to the late former president Robert Gabriel Mugabe.
Mugabe died at the age of 95 in Singapore last week and his body is expected in the country today for burial.
Billiat, scored the Warriors third goal which ensured the Warriors move to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers ahead of Somalia who beat them with a solitary goal in the reverse fixture played at a neutral venue, Djibouti last week.
The Warriors took long to settle in yesterday’s match which they had earmarked early goals which could not come by.
However, the host made a breakthrough through Marshall Munetsi in the 77th minute. Somalia hit back in the 86th minute sending shivers through the spines of Zimbabwe soccer loving fans, switching into panic mode.
However, Somalians celebrations were cut short, as they were busy crafting delaying tactics, Knox Mutizwa scored from a well taken free kick just outside the penalty box a minute after their goal to set up a gruelling finish to the encounter.
It was Billiat who then saved the best for the last with a thunderbolt that ricocheted in the far post to make sure the Warriors advance to the next stage of the competition.
In a post match exclusive interview with 263Chat, Billiat, who has on many occasions became the Warriors “Magician” said it was a good feeling to have won it for the team and dedicate it to the departed former president.
“It feels good to have won as a team. I don’t even know how the situation could have turned to be if we had lost in an effort to pay our last respect to our hero.
“ With his body arriving in the country tomorrow (today), the win will be a befitting send off, he is someone who has done a lot Zimbabwean sport and the nation at large.
“For us to be here right now, for us to be in the hotel its because of him and his intelligence and his love for his people.
“I would just want to say, this is for you our hero, someone we ill never forget for his contribution to the liberation of this country, May your dear Soul Rest in Peace,” said Billiat.
Billiat was one of the few sports personalities to take to his Twitter to mourn the former president soon after the news of his death filtered in.
