Kaizer Chiefs supporters are set for an emotional reunion on Sunday when club legend Knowledge Musona lines up against his former side for the first time in more than ten years.
Amakhosi will host Zimbabwean club Scotland FC in the Toyota Cup at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, with the fixture dominated by the return of one of their most celebrated modern forwards.
The match will also feature another former Chiefs star, Khama Billiat, meaning two of the most influential Zimbabwean footballers in the club’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) era will be back on South African soil – this time as opponents.
‘Smiling Assassin’ back on South African stage
Musona, affectionately known as the “Smiling Assassin” by Chiefs fans, is widely regarded as one of the club’s outstanding attacking talents of the past 20 years.
He first joined Chiefs in 2009 as a largely unknown teenager from Zimbabwe but quickly developed into a prolific and feared striker in the PSL.
Between 2009 and 2011, he scored 19 goals in 49 appearances across all competitions, playing a central role in Chiefs lifting three trophies during that period.
His breakthrough campaign came in the 2010-11 season, when he struck 15 league goals and finished as the PSL’s Golden Boot winner. That form earned him a move to Germany and confirmed his status as one of the league’s leading forwards.
Musona returned to Naturena on loan in 2013 under then-coach Stuart Baxter. Though his second spell was shorter, he still managed an impressive nine goals in 19 matches.
The electric excitement of his first stint was never fully replicated, but his quality was evident enough to secure a move to Europe once more. In Belgium, he revived his career with Oostende, where he scored 35 goals and became a key figure for the club.
Nostalgia and unfinished business
Sunday’s Toyota Cup clash offers Chiefs fans a rare chance to see Musona and Billiat share a pitch with their former side, evoking memories of some of the club’s most entertaining attacking football.
Musona, now past his peak playing years, is still held in high esteem at Naturena for the role he played in lifting the team over two standout seasons. His return – even for a single match – is expected to be warmly received by Amakhosi supporters.
The presence of Billiat adds an extra layer of emotion. The forward left Chiefs under something of a cloud, without the opportunity for a proper farewell to fans who had once idolised him.
For many in the stands, the Toyota Cup will therefore carry a sense of closure, particularly for Billiat, who will have the platform to reconnect with the supporters he left behind.
Chiefs, Scotland FC and the wider significance
While the encounter is a friendly, it carries symbolic importance for both clubs.
For Kaizer Chiefs, it is a chance to celebrate a player widely considered one of their modern greats, while also giving supporters a moment of reflection on an era in which Musona and, later, Billiat were central figures.
For Scotland FC, the presence of two high-profile Zimbabwean internationals underscores the club’s growing ambitions and offers a rare showcase match against one of Africa’s most storied teams.
Above all, the Royal Bafokeng Stadium is set to host a fixture steeped in nostalgia, as two old favourites return to face the club where they truly made their names in South African football.
