Edson Castillo’s Limited Minutes at Kaizer Chiefs No Concern for Venezuela Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers
Edson Castillo’s restricted playing time at Kaizer Chiefs following his injury has not raised any alarms back in his home country of Venezuela. Despite featuring for just 64 minutes across four matches since recovering from a fractured fibula, the midfielder remains a valued member of the national squad.
Venezuela head coach Fernando Batista showed continued faith in Castillo by calling him up for the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. La Vinotinto are set to face Bolivia on Saturday morning, followed by a challenging fixture against Uruguay on June 11.
Castillo, 31, last represented Venezuela in October against Argentina, making a late substitute appearance. His name has frequently come up in discussions surrounding the national team, especially as he previously appeared in three matches during this qualifying campaign before injury ruled him out of the last two international windows.
The Venezuelan international sustained a fractured fibula earlier this year in a league clash with SuperSport United, which significantly limited his contributions at club level. However, with Venezuela’s midfield options stretched, Castillo’s experience and quality remain important to Batista’s plans.
Kaizer Chiefs recently confirmed that Castillo will stay on at Naturena for the new season, having exercised the option to extend his contract by another year. His continued presence offers the Soweto giants depth in midfield and a proven performer when fit.
Venezuela’s willingness to call up players active in the South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) is somewhat unique among CONMEBOL nations. Historically, the country has remained open to selecting talents from leagues outside South America’s traditional powerhouses.
The trend was notably set by former national team goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel, who earned 58 caps and remained a regular for Venezuela even during his stint at Mamelodi Sundowns. Dudamel made eight appearances during the 2005/06 season with the Tshwane side.
Another familiar name is Jose Torrealba, who was capped 10 times for Venezuela during his tenure in the PSL with both Sundowns and Chiefs. Torrealba earned seven caps while at Sundowns and added another three following his move to Chiefs, where his international career concluded.
Castillo now joins an exclusive list of Venezuelans to don the famous Kaizer Chiefs jersey, following in the footsteps of Torrealba and Gustavo Paez. His selection underlines Venezuela’s continued recognition of players excelling in the PSL, despite the league’s geographical distance from the traditional South American football scene.
As Venezuela battles to improve its standing in CONMEBOL’s competitive World Cup qualifying group, Castillo’s presence — regardless of his limited club minutes — highlights the national team’s trust in his ability to deliver on the international stage.
