It’s an important week coming up for Amakhosi as they face Stellenbosch at home in a DStv Premiership clash on Tuesday evening at 17:00, then Chiefs are off to Conakry in Guinea to face Horoya in their final game in the CAF Champions league group stages.
In the midst of these important clashes Chiefs striker Leonardo Castro who has missed Chiefs last two games through injury is hoping to play some part in helping Chiefs climb up the league table as well as progress to the knockout stages of the CAF Champions League.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s game against Stellenbosch, Castro is calling for calm and more of the same from his teammates as they have gone through their last five games in all competitions unbeaten, while keeping four clean-sheets.
“We all know Stellenbosch is a tough team,” says Castro. “We need to focus on ourselves and we need to keep the good mentality that we have developed over the last few games. It’s going to help us and encourage us for the clash against Stellies.”
Castro believes Chiefs’ recent league win over Orlando Pirates and their Champions League victory over Wydad Casablanca has given them a positive lift and one on which they can build.
“These wins have given us a winning mentality,” he adds. “It’s a positive thing for us to have won these matches, so now we can go into this week’s games with confidence – hopefully we get the results we want.”
The Colombian who will play in his 99th game for Chiefs in all competitions should he feature on Tuesday, is well aware that Chiefs who have two games in hand over the two teams just above them, Cape Town City and TS Galaxy, can climb up to seventh if they put a run of victories together.
“The next game is another ‘final’, so we have to take it,” he emphasizes. “We have to win the game so we can improve from our last performance. We need to take each and every game with responsibility so we can finish the season in good shape.”
While he missed Chiefs’ league meetings against Maritzburg United and Orlando Pirates, as well as home and away clashes in the Champions League against Petro Luanda last month through injury, he is ready to take on Stellenbosch should he get the chance.
“I am available for the team in case the coach wants to use me,” he explains. “I am ready and eager to go. I want to contribute and give my best.”
Since joining Chiefs midway through the 2017-18 season, Castro has scored 25 goals in 98 games in all competitions for Chiefs. He will be looking to add to that tally against Stellenbosch on Tuesday at the FNB Stadium. So far this campaign, Castro has featured in 26 games, contributing with five goals, the most important of which came in the First Round second leg clash against Primeiro De Agosto in the CAF Champions League in a 1-0 away win for Chiefs on 5 January. The goal sent Amakhosi through to the group stages of the CAF Champions League for the first time.
The game between Amakhosi and Stellenbosch will take place at FNB Stadium on Tuesday at 17:00 (18:00EAT)
