Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rhulani Mokwena revealed that the club were close to signing Khama Billiat before his move to Kaizer Chiefs, but ultimately decided against a move for the Zimbabwean, writes DEAN WORKMAN.

Billiat signed for Amakhosi in July on a free transfer after spending five trophy-laden years at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The money behind the move has been much-publicised as Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane admitted that the Chloorkop-based club simply could not match the striker’s financial demands.

Speaking to the media in the buildup to the Soweto derby on Saturday, Mokwena, who worked with Billiat during his time at Sundowns, revealed that the Buccaneers were very close to signing the Chiefs hitman, but ultimately decided the deal was not worth it.

‘We tried to sign Khama, we decided in the last minute though not to sign him.

‘We had lots of talks with myself and Khama, we were very close to bringing Khama to the black and white, very close.

‘But we decided on protecting the changing room more than anything else because the ratio between the expense, and when I say expense I am not only talking about the salary, but the expense with regard to injuries and certain other factors, and the profit we would get, we thought it did not make sense.

‘So it’s not that Pirates missed out on the race to sign Khama, Pirates decided not to sign Khama,’ concluded Mokwena.