Castro back for Celtic vs Chiefs
Castro back for Celtic vs Chiefs

Posted in News, Team News on Aug 19, 2020.

Leonardo Castro is back in the starting XI for this evening’s Absa Premiership fixture against Bloemfontein Celtic. The Colombian striker missed the previous match against Polokwane City due to a muscle strain.

Ramahlwe Mphahlele will also start, which will be for the first team this season. The right-back came on immediately after the half-time break against City and performed admirably.

Another stalwart who is back in the line-up is Bernard ‘Die Hond’ Parker, who will partner in midfield Willard Katsande, who scored Amakhosi’s first goal on Saturday in the 3-2 win over Rise and Shine.

The other goals were netted by Anthony Akumu Agay and Samir Nurković, who has already scored 13 league goals this season. The Serbian striker has also provided five assists and won the Man of the Match award for both Chiefs’ matches played after the five month-break, against Bidvest Wits and Polokwane City.

Agay will be in defence and will be partnered by Mphahlele, Erick Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso.

Lebogang Manyama and Khama Billiat will be the attacking midfielders, often creating danger from the flanks.

Keletso Sifama, who came on as a substitute on Saturday to make his official debut wearing the Gold and Black, will be on the bench.

The 17-year-old attacker did brilliantly well against Polokwane, using his pace and ball skill and created a penalty shortly after coming on. Unfortunately, Daniel Cardoso hit the crossbar.

Amakhosi are on top of the league table with 52 points, six points ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns who lost 3-2 to Cape Town City on Monday.

Phunya Sele Sele are on 29 points from 24 matches, occupying 11th position.

The referee tonight will be Victor Hlungwani. His assistants are Zakhele Siwela and Lalelani Mngadi. Xola Sitela will be the fourth official.

Bloemfontein Celtic will host Kaizer Chiefs at Pretoria’s Tuks Stadium this Wednesday night (kick-off is at 18:00). No spectators will be allowed in the stadium. The game will be broadcasted live on SABC 3 and the DStv channel SuperSport 4.

Teams:

Chiefs XI: Akpeyi (40); Mphahlele (2), Mathoho (3), Agay (5), Cardoso (4); Manyama (21), Katsande © (31), Parker (25), Billiat (11); Nurković (9), Castro (8)

Subs: Bvuma (44), Frosler (39), Sasman (20), Baccus (6), Kambole (7), Ntshangase (10), Zulu (22), Zuma (28), Sifama (46)

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Celtic XI: Chaine (31); Fikizolo (34), Mahashe (3), Chabalala (25), Ngobeni (26); Phalane (8), Baloyi (35), Letlabika (5); Sera (9), Mabena © (10), Letsoalo (21)

Subs: Mpoto (32), Mashikinya (18), Luthuli (13), Meama (12), Potsane (11), Ndou (17), Lingwati (24), Masuku (50), Tchilimbou (27)

Coach: John Maduka

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