Leonardo Castro Opens Up On Alcohol Issue In SA Football

A ditched Kaizer Chiefs striker Leonardo Castro says alcohol is a problem in South African football and players eventually disrespect their teammates and technical teams when they’re under the influence of alcohol.

“You cannot hide that South African players like partying and alcohol. It is sad what is happening because alcohol is a problem. Most of these things happen because of the influence of alcohol or any other substances most of the time. People like their drugs or whatever,” Castro told Soccer Laduma.

“The problem [with alcohol] is disrespecting your teammates, disrespecting the technical staff and everyone at the club. For me, that shows disrespect, and if it is a young player and it happens once, then I can come to him and say, “Look, it is not the right time, and it is not right to come into training like this.”

“Each and every club has a problem like this. Some players listened, but some didn’t. I say it to you when you are wrong, not behind you,” added Castro.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns striker is still a free agent after his contract wasn’t renewed at Naturena. Dumisani Zuma who was Castro’s teammate at Chiefs was suspended by the club when he came to training with a hangover. He reportedly got into an altercation with his coach Arthur Zwane. 

Daniel Cardoso who was released by Chiefs along with Castro also revealed how players used to report to training under the influence of alcohol at Kaizer Chiefs.

Cardoso was speaking at the Marawa Sports Worldwide where he revealed that Amakhosi’s signing strategy isn’t proper and how some of their players don’t care about representing the badge.

“I think the biggest downfall over the past seven years I was there… I have seen players brought in and let go within six months to a year [because they were not the right fit],” Cardoso told Marawa Sports Worldwide.

“Sometimes the quality of signings that come to Chiefs… you bring in players from the NFD (National First Division), you bring in free agents. I mean, they are passionate about playing but some players just want to earn a salary. 

“And you can see it on the field. You can see who wants to play and how some players just arrive at training reeking of alcohol because they don’t care. I believe that was the biggest effect [problem] we had at Chiefs in the years that I was there.”