Kaizer Chiefs' recent acquisition of former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Gaston Sirino has sparked discussions about his potential impact compared to other Brazilians players who had made the switch to the Glamour Boys in the past.
Notable names like Katlego "Killer" Mphela, Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat, and Ramahlwe Mphahlele have had varying degrees of success at Chiefs, setting a precedent that Sirino will be measured against.
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Edward Manqele, another former Sundowns player who joined Chiefs, shared his optimistic outlook on Sirino's prospects in an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma.
Manqele believes that Sirino has the potential to emulate the success of Jose Torrealba and Josta Dladla, two players who successfully transitioned from Masandawana to Amakhosi and made significant contributions.
"At times it's not good to compare the careers of different players because we all have our different paths which we take and our luck is not the same. But personally, I think Sirino will do very well at Chiefs," Manqele told the Siya crew.
"You remember how (Jose) Torrealba did? And then Josta Dladla? Those were players from Sundowns who did very well at Chiefs. Yes, some of us didn't do well for different reasons but I feel that Sirino will do well just like Torrealba and Josta (Dladla). They should just give him the chance and opportunity to do what he does best," Manqele added.
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Manqele also emphasized the importance of utilizing Sirino in his preferred position to maximize his effectiveness.
"If they can play him in his favourite position as a number 10 behind the strikers then they will benefit from him. He should be given the freedom to play his game and enjoy it and then they will also enjoy his services. He still has what it takes. You saw everything, how he played at Sundowns," Manqele concluded.
As Sirino integrates into the Chiefs setup, the technical team's ability to leverage his skills and experience in the right tactical context will be crucial. If successfully deployed, Sirino could indeed become a pivotal player for Chiefs, helping them in their quest to reclaim their former glory and compete at the highest levels of African football.
