Kaizer Chiefs unveiled their latest acquisition on Friday when they presented Venezuelan international, Edson Castillo to the South African public

The 29-year-old midfielder becomes the seventh new face to enter the Kaizer Chiefs Village ahead of the new season, and the Club has high hopes that he will add a dimension of South American flavour to the Amakhosi engine room.

Executive Chairman, Dr. Kaizer Motaung, was in attendance to meet the new arrival and offer typically warm words of greeting.
“We welcome him,” the Chairman said, “We brought him here because of the talent that we saw and we hope that he can be happy here and also make history here in Africa. I have played with players from South America when I was Atlanta (Chiefs) in America and they were all good people, so I know exactly what we can expect from him.”

“We won’t put too much pressure on him,” the Chairman continued, “He must feel free, he must feel like he is with family. He must feel comfortable around anybody here. I wish him a very good journey with us.”

The player, speaking through an interpreter, expressed his joy at the prospect of playing for, what the Chairman correctly noted, “the biggest Club in South Africa and one of the biggest on the continent”.

“I am very happy for the opportunity and I am also very excited about coming to such a big Club. I had opportunities to go to other clubs but when I heard about the interest from such a big club I had no doubts about coming here, and seeing this welcome, I am very happy and believe I have made the right decision. I want to win trophies and have a successful time here,” he said.

Also present at the occasion was Marketing Director, Jessica Motaung, who echoed the Chairman’s sentiments, saying, “We are quite excited that he’s joining us and the opportunity it brings. He’s not the first player from Venezuela to play for us, so we know other players have been here and we are excited to have you (Castillo) here and we’re looking forward to you making history, so welcome.”

Ms. Motaung went on to elaborate a little on the potential advantages that can be derived from signing a foreign player with an attractive profile.
“I am also excited because I think there are a lot of opportunities around the marketing in Venezuela as well so growing the Kaizer Chiefs brand,” she said, “And the association with Venezuela is going to be very exciting for us, and for the South Africa / South America link so it is a great market for us to leverage so I am quite excited that he has become an asset of ours.”

Castillo has been capped six times by his country and was a member of the La Vinotinto squad that participated in the 2021 Copa America, where he scored his only international goal to date against Ecuador.

He becomes the third Venezuelan player to pull on the iconic Gold & Black jersey, more than any other non-African country to be represented among the Mighty Amakhosi.

Following in the footsteps of Jose Torrealba and Leandro Perez, Castillo stated determinedly, “Like the Venezuelan players who have been here before, I want to make my mark while I am with the team.”

Castillo’s arrival marks yet another component of a squad being assembled to embark on a new era of success and silverware.