Edson Castillo becomes a worry for Kaizer Chiefs
During the recent FIFA break, Kaizer Chiefs had four players on international duty: Edson Castillo, Rushwin Dortley, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, and goalkeeper Faicre.
Castillo, who played briefly for Venezuela in their 1-1 draw with Argentina, only got back to Naturena on Thursday.
Edson Castillo might be unavailable for Chiefs after the international break.
He might not be fit to play in the Carling Knockout match against SuperSport United on Saturday.
Dortley got injured during a match against Congo-Brazzaville and is also likely to miss Saturday’s game.
What Nabi said about Edson Castillo
“It’s always good to see many players from our team representing their national teams,” Nabi told the media.
“It’s an honour for us, and I believe there are other players who will also get a chance to play for their countries.
“However, having a game so soon can be a challenge because there isn’t enough time for the players to recover and prepare properly for the next match,” the Tunisian added.
“For example, Castillo just arrived today [Thursday] at 3pm, so we’re not sure if he’ll have enough time to get ready.
“I also heard that Dortley has an injury. We have to work around these issues and see how we can include them in the team.”
What does this mean for Chiefs
If Castillo can’t play on Saturday, Nabi might not be too worried since Castillo has only started one of Chiefs’ three Premier Soccer League matches this season.
The coach has other options in midfield, including Yusuf Maart, Samkelo Zwane, Njabulo Blom, and Sibongiseni Mathethwa.
Dortley’s injury may also not be a major concern as Ditlhokwe, Inacio Miguel, Given Msimango, and Zitha Kwinika are available.
What’s next for Amakhosi
The Soweto giants are finalising their preparations for the SuperSport match, aiming to end a nine-year wait for a trophy. This will be Nabi’s first major cup game as the Amakhosi coach.
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