Coach Molefi Ntseki lauded the multifaceted brilliance of Kaizer Chiefs’ midfielder Edson Castillo following the Venezuelan’s stoppage-time clincher, securing a thrilling 2-1 triumph over Cape Town City in an MTN8 quarter-final clash at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
Taking the 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute, the home side were propelled by Marc van Heerden’s header, its legitimacy confirmed as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen seemed to perform a stunning save.
In a turnaround, Chiefs drew level as Ashley Du Preez wrapped up a fluid attacking sequence in the 36th minute to make it 1-1.
With extra-time on the horizon, Castillo and substitute Christian Saile orchestrated a superb collaboration to thrust Chiefs into the MTN8 semi-finals.
Following the final whistle, Ntseki extolled Castillo’s overall quality, a player swiftly ascending as a Chiefs’ fan-favourite.
“Our scouts journeyed to Venezuela to observe his play, and we identified a player indispensable to the club,” Ntseki stated post-match. “We needed an authoritative presence, a confident ball-handler, and someone adept at navigating diverse scenarios.
Ntseki flexes as he details how Chiefs strategically scouted & signed Castillo! 😝💪⚽#GSAVideo pic.twitter.com/q6bQXuYVnS
— GOAL South Africa (@GOALcomSA) August 14, 2023
“He’s bringing those attributes to the team. Remarkably, it’s only his third match in South Africa, and there’s more to unveil from him – he projects the image of an intelligent midfielder.”
“Regarding the tempo of the game, he still needs adaptation to South Africa’s weather and the nuances of our opponents,” Ntseki continued. “Additionally, he must gel with his teammates and understand their playing style.”
“In terms of tactical coherence, we’ve got a ways to go to become a robust unit.”
Sunday’s victory heralds Ntseki’s inaugural top-tier triumph, reflecting the dawn of his Chiefs tenure and their ambitions for this season’s accolades.
Chiefs will next confront TS Galaxy in a DStv Premiership clash at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon, forging ahead with aspirations of continued success.
