Loan winger Kastaneer targets title at the end of his road to redemption with leaders Hearts
Not many international footballers are found starting a career rebuild in the humble surroundings of Somerset Park.
For Gervane Kastaneer, Coventry City’s Curacao winger, Friday night in Ayr was the first step on what he hopes is the road to redemption.
He feels “blessed” being on loan at Hearts trying to win the Championship title after falling out of favour in the West Midlands. The message is he wants to seize this opportunity.
His useful pace and direct approach were evident during a 24-minute substitute appearance in Ayrshire.
Fellow Hearts debutant Aaron Mceneff also looked hungry and energetic as Liam Boyce’s second halfpenalty earned Hearts a gritty 1-0 win.
“I want to show myself again because I didn't play for a long time," said the Dutch-born 24-year-old.
“I want to get minutes and help the team. Hopefully at the end something nice happens. First of all I want to play as much as possible.
“Winning the title is 100 per cent what we have to do. Hopefully something nice happens for me as well, like with my reputation, ‘he's still a good player, he's still got it’, instead of ‘comme ci comme ça’.”
Kastaneer joined Coventry in summer 2019 from NAC Breda on a three-year contract. This loan is his chance to show he can still become the player they paid for.
He said: “A lot of things happened there. I came to a new country and had to adapt to the country, the playing style and everything. Very quickly I scored a goal after 30 seconds. That brings pressure on you directly. People are like ‘he is the guy’, so they were talking about me.
“In the next few games I got a red card. Then it went so fast. I don't know, maybe it’s me. I could have done more, 100 per cent. It went like that and I have to accept it, but I have to come back and show I can do it.”
Coventry will monitor his progress.
He said: “For now, I have to go back when the season ends. I think they will look at me as well, how I progress here.”
The weekend’s results leave Hearts 12 points clear again in their promotion push after Dunfermline suffered a 2-0 defeat to struggling Arbroath at Gayfield on Saturday.
Thomas O’brien cracked in the opener with a windassisted 30-yard drive that was deflected past Owain Fon-williams with the Dunfermline goalkeeper beaten again nine minutes later when Dale Hilson tapped in after Bobby Linn’s long-ranger struck the post.
The closest the visitors came to getting back into things was Kevin O’hara’s second half shot shot that hit the woodwork with Arbroath manager Dick Campbell saying: “I know Dunfermline were not happy the game went on, but I have seen it worse here. It is a great result for us.”
Raith Rovers took full advantage of Dunfermline stumbling by reclaiming second spot with a 1-0 win at Morton. The decisive moment came on 12 minutes, when Ian Davidson nodded in Daniel Armstrong’s freekick with the Kirkcaldy side missing the best of the few chances created afterwards.