Billiat, whose side was set to meet his former paymasters in a midweek game, said he would live to remember the memories he made while turning out for the Urban Warriors, who turned him from a virtual unknown to a star in everyone’s leaps in barely two seasons.
Ajax also put him on the verge of a European break, before he became the most expensive Absa Premiership star when he signed for the cash-rich Sundowns on a five-season deal. Most bitter about the player’s move is that he did not get a chance to say “Goodbye” to his former team-mates, a mutual feeling between the player and his former coach, Muhsin Ertugral.
Ajax’s Austrian-born coach said last month he was disappointed with the way Billiat left the club, saying the 23-year-old should have said goodbye to his former team-mates. Billiat said he intended to bid farewell but was unable to. “The deal was on and off, so I didn’t know when I would leave so I didn’t want to say goodbye before the time,” said Billiat.