Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has praised Gaston Sirino as a quality player after yet another blistering display in their 3-1 victory over AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.

The Uruguayan, who scored the second goal in that win over Usuthu, was acquired by Amakhosi as a free agent after partying ways with Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of last season. 

After joining the Pretoria side in January 2018, the winger played a total of 202 games, scoring 41 goals and registering 44 assists.  

With the rise of competition thanks to the ever-accumulating number of young talents, coaching changes, and his age in question, Sirino was eventually let go by the Masandawana. 

However, the winger proved that class is permanent as has hit the ground running at Naturena, scoring one goal and two assists in his first two games at the club. 

The seven-time league champion however carries with him a controversial image, with his attitude on the field being in question having accumulated multiple bookings due to descent in his time at Sundowns. 

However, the Chiefs gaffer believes that his star winger’s rage is what influences and motivates the younger talent at the club, given it shows his seriousness about the team. 

“He’s one of the greatest examples of rage, quality and he has a lot of impact on the whole team if you think about players like Mfunod Vilakazi or Samkelo Zwane. He has a lot of rage and at some point, we can say it’s a good deal somehow because he’s one of the most serious in terms of involvement,” said Nabi.

In identifying some of Sirino’s significant qualities, the Moroccan coach emphasized that he desires players of the same caliber at the club, with Sirino being a blueprint of his expectations.

“Also, in terms of defensive involvement we saw, when we see the way, he comes back as a defender for example. It is the same kind of players I would like to get.”

The 59-year-old added, “If you remember I said previously that I do not want to have middle-class players, and I just want to have very high experience with engaged players and top-quality players like Sirino.” 

The former Downs man is now awaited by the task of once again demonstrating his quality against his former club in Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Saturday for the club’s third league game of the season. 

Both clubs currently boast a 100%-win record in the league, at six points in three games with Sundowns ahead by a +1-goal difference.

Interestingly, the last time Chiefs beat Sundowns at FNB Stadium was in April 2021, 2-1, and Sirino scored for the Tshwane side.