Durban – Kaizer Chiefs coach Nazireddine Nabi has commended the quality of their new signing, Gaston Sirino, following his exceptional performance during the Amakhosi 3-1 drubbing of AmaZulu Wednesday night at Moses Mbhida Stadium.
Amakhosi signed the 33-year-old Uruguayan forward as a free agent right after his release from the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sirino, who now holds South African citizenship, arrived in the country to join the Brazilians during the 2017/18 season.
Sirino made his debut for Chiefs alongside Rushwin Dortley, Inacio Miguel, Bradly Cross, and their new number-one shot-stopper, Fiacre Ntwari, against Marumo Gallants in the first game of the new season on 14 September 2024.
Much to the relief of long-suffering fans, a rejuvenated Chiefs managed a 2-1 victory.
On Wednesday night, right-footed Sirino brought back some shine to the Phefeni Glamour Boys when he scored his first goal against Usuthu, leaving Tunisian-born coach Nabi visibly chuffed.
“We’re very happy about Sirino and the great experience he has brought to us,” Nabi said after the game.
Nabi further expressed his satisfaction over the forward’s contribution to the team.
“He is one of the greatest examples of rare quality and he has a lot of impact on the whole team when you think about players like Shabalala, Vilakazi, and Samkelo.
“We can say [signing Sirino] it’s a good deal somehow, because he is one of the very serious in terms of involvement and also in terms of defensive involvement, when we [look at] the way, he drops back as a defender.”
Sirino was only signed after Chiefs failed to secure the signatures of Asanele Velebhayi and Oswin Appollis.
During the pre-season, Nabi had emphasised his desire to sign quality players for the Soweto side.
Impressive with Sirino’s performance, Nabi said the Uruguayan was exactly the kind of player he wanted.
“If you remember I once said I did not want middle-class players and I just want to have very highly experienced players and quality players like Serino,” said Nabi, the former FAR Rabat coach.
In the next game Chiefs will, on Saturday, face Mamelodi Sundowns in a fixture that is expected to be a blockbuster considering both teams’ recent form.
