Posted in News, Team News on Oct 23, 2020.
“We want to start the season in a good way,” says Leonardo Castro, while looking forward to Saturday’s league opener against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Colombian striker sustained a hamstring injury against Stellenbosch FC in August and, as a result, missed the last four matches of the 2019/2020 season.
The 31-year-old therefore didn’t participate in the previous match against Sundowns.
Castro resumed full training just a few days before last weekend’s MTN8 quarterfinal against Maritzburg United. Kaizer Chiefs were 1-0 down at half-time, but the Colombian, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half, helped change the game.
Two goals from Yagan Sasman ensured that Amakhosi progressed to the semis.
“It was tough,” Castro reflects on his comeback against Maritzburg. “I didn’t really participate in pre-season and also didn’t play in any friendlies. I needed to be strong mentally and I was happy having been able to contribute.”
Now the Brazilians await on Saturday. “It’s a new season with a new coach and a new league, which is now named the DStv Premiership. Everything is different – it’s the beginning of a new era.”
Castro, who last season netted seven goals in 18 league appearances, is getting adjusted to Chiefs’ new coach, Gavin Hunt. “He has brought in a new structure. He’s also very clear with the players in what he wants from each and everyone.”
The attacker prefers not to talk too much about the upcoming Sundowns encounter. “It’s the first of a long season of 30 matches and it’s still a long way to go to the finish line. But of course, it’s an important game.”
The Colombian still rues the absence of the loyal and vocal Chiefs fans at the stadium, due to the Covid-19 epidemic. “It’s not nice playing without them. We all feel that something is missing. However, we know that our supporters are always with us, even though they can’t come to the stadium at present.”
Amakhosi will host the Brazilians at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 24 October, with a 15:30 kick-off time. No spectators will be allowed in the stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the DStv channel SuperSport 202 and SABC 1, including various SABC radio stations, with commentary coming through the Twitter handle, @KaizerChiefs
The Colombian striker sustained a hamstring injury against Stellenbosch FC in August and, as a result, missed the last four matches of the 2019/2020 season.
The 31-year-old therefore didn’t participate in the previous match against Sundowns.
Castro resumed full training just a few days before last weekend’s MTN8 quarterfinal against Maritzburg United. Kaizer Chiefs were 1-0 down at half-time, but the Colombian, who came on as a substitute at the start of the second half, helped change the game.
Two goals from Yagan Sasman ensured that Amakhosi progressed to the semis.
“It was tough,” Castro reflects on his comeback against Maritzburg. “I didn’t really participate in pre-season and also didn’t play in any friendlies. I needed to be strong mentally and I was happy having been able to contribute.”
Now the Brazilians await on Saturday. “It’s a new season with a new coach and a new league, which is now named the DStv Premiership. Everything is different – it’s the beginning of a new era.”
Castro, who last season netted seven goals in 18 league appearances, is getting adjusted to Chiefs’ new coach, Gavin Hunt. “He has brought in a new structure. He’s also very clear with the players in what he wants from each and everyone.”
The attacker prefers not to talk too much about the upcoming Sundowns encounter. “It’s the first of a long season of 30 matches and it’s still a long way to go to the finish line. But of course, it’s an important game.”
The Colombian still rues the absence of the loyal and vocal Chiefs fans at the stadium, due to the Covid-19 epidemic. “It’s not nice playing without them. We all feel that something is missing. However, we know that our supporters are always with us, even though they can’t come to the stadium at present.”
Amakhosi will host the Brazilians at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 24 October, with a 15:30 kick-off time. No spectators will be allowed in the stadium. The game will be broadcast live on the DStv channel SuperSport 202 and SABC 1, including various SABC radio stations, with commentary coming through the Twitter handle, @KaizerChiefs
