Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed newly-signed Kaizer Chiefs attacker Gaston Sirino’s positional limitations.

Sundowns released Sirino at the end of last season after six years at the club. The Uruguayan saw little action in the last two seasons and sought a move away from the club.

Last week, the 33-year-old joined Amakhosi on a two-year deal and is expected to play a pivotal role in coach Nasreddine Nabi’s rebuild. Interestingly, Mngqithi has picked two roles that Sirino cannot play.

WHAT MANQOBA MNGQITHI SAID ABOUT GASTON SIRINO

“To be honest, I like Gaston a lot, but in life, we must also allow for succession to take place,” he told MSW. The 53-year-old mentor picked six players who could benefit from the absence of Sirino.

“When you look at the players that we have signed, now we are trying to have [Siyabonga] Mabena also becoming a dominant feature in our team. [Thapelo] Maseko becoming a dominant feature in our team. We’ve got Kutlwano [Letlhaku], who is also doing very well.

“We’ve got Lesiba Nku, who is also doing well. We’ve got [Kobamelo] Kodisang, we’ve got Lucas Ribeiro in these wide channels.”

On Sirino’s positional limitations, he said: “And Gaston cannot play as a nine, maybe as a false nine. In a three-man midfield, he’s also not gonna be there. So, we don’t want to stifle the growth and the development of youngsters.”

The veteran mentor praised the six-time league winner for his discipline. “But the truth of the matter, he’s still a very good player and discipline-wise, he’s very disciplined.”

However, he insists people “must also allow for the succession to take place”. “I think the players we have signed are going to maybe prove whether it was a wrong decision for the club to let him go. Or it was the right decision, but let’s just wait and see,” he concluded.

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