With Edson Castillo expected to return to Naturena on Thursday evening from international duty with Venezuela, Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki has admitted the challenge in making a final decision on whether or not he starts .
Castillo was included in the Venezuelan national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Chile, but was not included in the final matchday squads for both clashes. That is where the challenge is for Ntseki. One, Castillo did not get playing time and, two, there is the long trip back from South America, which can be taxing on a footballer. And with Chiefs set to play Usuthu on Saturday evening, they do not have a lot of time with the player.
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The midfielder will get only one training session with his teammates before the last 16 clash, before a decision is made on what his involvement in the game will be like.
"First thing was for us to congratulate him for being part of the national team. I think every player wants to play for his national team and it was a big achievement for him to be recognised. Being in camp was a good thing becayse he went through the training and preparation with the team, even though he did not play," Ntseki told media during a Carling Knockout last 16 press conference held at the PSL offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
"I would have been much happier if he was to play and I know for a fact, being the type of player he is, he would have loved to play. It is not a good thing that he did not play, but it's also a good thing that he was part of the national team."
What's clear is that Ntseki wants Castillo to be part of the match on Saturday. He first has to consult with the medical team to find out how many minutes the player can take after the arduous trip back from South America.
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"The time zones are a bit of a challenge for us, but he is a professional. We are looking forward to him arriving in South Africa on Thursday night and hopefully we will have him in our captain's run on Friday. We will look at it and get advice from our medical team and also our sport science in terms of how many minutes we can have him on the pitch, if ever we have to start him or bring him in (as a substitute). But he is a very important member of the team."
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