Many seasons ago, Ajax Cape Town coach Foppe de Haan had high hopes for Khama Billiat.
It was the Dutchman who signed the Zimbabwean after an impressive trial from CAPS United in his home town.
Before that he was working in a clothing shop.
Billiat, after doing well on trial, was meant to go to the Netherlands with the Urban Warriors youngsters. But instead Foppe sent him home.
Little did the Zimbabwean know one day foreign teams would be vying for his signature.
I think it’s safe to say today is that day.
He has been simply sensational and if there was any doubting what he has achieved with Mamelodi Sundowns, Billiat showed his class against Algeria in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash.
Yes Riyad Mahrez, the African Player of the Year, scored two goals to earn a draw for the Desert Foxes.
But I think it’s safe to say everyone was talking about Billiat, the recently named second-best African footballer based in Africa, after the match.
The African Champions League winner and reigning PSL Player of the Year ran the Algerian defence ragged as he carved out chance after chance for the likes of Tendai Ndoro.
The only downside is that he did not convert any of them.
Zimbabwe may not be expected to get out of a group that also includes Tunisia and Senegal, but if Billiat keeps up his form there’s no reason why they can’t make it.
We have seen what he can do at Sundowns but I think it’s fair to say he raised his game a notch for that Algeria clash.
I cannot say it enough, he was sublime.
And with the eyes of the world on the next best thing to come from the continent, you can bet the international suitors will come knocking.
Billiat may be small – he stands 1.7m in his socks – and might struggle with the size of European defenders.
But at the age of 26 and having won everything he can in African club football, now is the time for him to spread his wings and tackle the big time.