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Romeo Castelen (right) in
action against Wellington Phoenix.
FOR weeks on end he has kicked his heels - a
frustrated spectator as his teammates have gone on to be champions of Asia.
But finally Romeo Castelen gets the chance of a leading
role, as the Wanderers bid to pull their A-League campaign out of a rut on Saturday
night in Perth.
The 31-year-old Dutchman hopes for only his third start
for Western Sydney at the weekend, having signed just too late for inclusion in
the Asian Champions League.
But any irritation at being sidelined has quickly become
motivation at the prospect of taking part in the Club World Cup, and a possible
date with Real Madrid.
“It’s been very hard, I was here at the very beginning
but I knew I would not be able to play in any of the games in the ACL,”
Castelen said.
“At the time you think, that’s just how it is. But then
the guys are training for a specific game, doing all the preparation, so it was
difficult.
“But equally they made me very happy, because of the boys
I get to play in the Club World Cup. Everybody gets the chance to help the team
out and I’m so happy to the boys for winning the Asian championship.
“It gives us a big stage to show ourselves and put the
club in a bigger spotlight.
The fitness levels and
performances still expected to come from Castelen are one of the reasons why
Tony Popovic remains unconcerned about Western Sydney’s winless start to the
season.
The player himself
predicts an almost immediate improvement, and is likely to get the run of games
he craves as one of the freshest members of the squad.
“As a footballer, the more games you get the more fit you
are and the more in tune with the team,” he said. “It takes time, but in a
couple of weeks I think I will be ready. “I’m not the sort of player who needs
a lot of games to hit my stride, already I’m looking forward to the next game.
“I’ve not had regular games, it’s been a few weeks to get
a run again [between the Sydney derby and Phoenix last weekend] til I get a run
again.
“It’s been a bit different, but now there is the chance
of a lot of games one after the other. Now I can really enjoy myself, get my
shape back and get into form.”
At least he will have got through the two toughest away
trips in quick succession, with the trip to Perth preceded by that eye-opening
journey to Wellington.
“It’s a difficult thing in Australia, now I’ve had my
first major trip I know what the boys are going through playing in Asia midweek
and flying back,” he said.
“It’s very tough, which makes what they achieved all the
bigger. But now all the players are back, and the ACL is behind us, we can
focus on the A-League.
“It’s never nice to lose games, but it’s a huge boost
just knowing we are the champions of Asia. We have to switch on to a new
competition, basically start all over again. We have to prove ourselves on the
pitch, and we will get better over time.”
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