Kaizer Chiefs need a spark – will the real Gaston Sirino please stand up?
Image: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
Kaizer Chiefs will need Gaston Sirino to stand up this season and display the form that made him one of the most exciting players to watch when he was with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Uruguayan is about to begin his second season with the club, and will be hoping for a better showing after disappearing for much of the 2024/25 campaign.
When he was still at Sundowns, Sirino turned on the magic and was a nightmare for opposing defenders. He won seven league titles and a host of other cups in the famous yellow jersey, playing alongside the likes of Temba Zwane and Peter Shalulile.
Ahead of last season, he swapped the Tshwane giants for the giants from Soweto, and early signs were good. He looked like a midfield general, orchestrating wave after wave of attacks as Chiefs came flying out the gates.
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The spark vanished – and with it, Chiefs' creative spark dimmed. Sirino was out of the team. And for a while, no one knew why. Various reports suggested he didn't turn up for training, which strained his relationship with the club's coaching staff.
Without him, their playmakers lacked direction, and the forwards were left starved of quality service. He returned later in the season, but by then, the damage had been done, and the club couldn't escape their poor run of form.
This season, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi will be hoping to have the real Sirino show up. At his best, Sirino is a technically gifted and intelligent player who can unlock defences in his sleep. He has good control of the ball and can beat defenders in a one-on-one situation with the drop of a shoulder.
Sirino fits Nabi's system best as a creative attacking midfielder or an inverted right winger. He can unlock defences with skill and vision. However, due to the high work-rate and pressing Nabi demands, he could be most effective as an impact substitute or game controller late in matches, using his experience and creativity without needing to cover as much ground.
Because of his versatility, he can play out wide, up front, and just behind the striker. When fit and motivated, he is one of the best players in the country. Kaizer Chiefs shouldn't be languishing in the bottom half of the table when they have such a player on their books.
If he can rediscover his best football this season, Kaizer Chiefs will be a very dangerous team, especially with the reinforcements they have made in the transfer window. If Sirino can put the ball on a plate for the strikers, their woes up front might not be such a huge issue. But for Chiefs to get better, they need the real Gaston Sirino to stand up.
This is not just a big season for Chiefs – it's a defining one for Sirino. At 34, the window to leave a lasting legacy at Naturena is narrowing. He doesn't need to be the Sirino of old; he just needs to be consistent, committed, and influential.
If he delivers, he could be the difference between another disappointing season and a genuine push for silverware. The spotlight is on him – now it's time to shine.
IOL Sport
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