Kaizer Chiefs playmaker Gaston Sirino has highlighted a key area that sets his former employers, Mamelodi Sundowns, apart from his current club amid the Naturena-based outfit’s ongoing struggles this season.

The Soweto giants lured the Montevideo-born star away from Chloorkop on a free transfer in August 2024 in a bid to bolster their attacking department on the back of a worst-ever 10th-placed finish in the PSL era.

In addition, Chiefs roped in Nasreddine Nabi, whom they have been courting for a prolonged period after his exploits with Tanzanian giants Young Africans and AS FAR of Morocco. 

The Tunisian mentor’s acquisition and the new star signings brought a new sense of optimism to Naturena.

However, it hasn’t been a smooth ride for Amakhosi as they find themselves in position nine in the Betway Premiership with 30 points accumulated from 26 matches played this season. Despite all that, there is a silver lining as the Glamour Boys are in the Nedbank Cup final, where they are set to face Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

In contrast, Sundowns are on course to their record-extending eighth consecutive championship and in the CAF Champions League final, with Egyptian side Pyramids FC standing between them and continental glory.

The Uruguayan talisman, who lifted 11 trophies with the Tshwane giants, including seven league titles, says Sundowns’ success is due to the quality of their squad depth, while Chiefs become short-staffed and subsequently lose momentum in the event of an injury to a key player.

“I think at Sundowns there are too many players, all good players. Sometimes here [at Chiefs], if one [player] is injured, then another player is injured also, that makes the team more short [of players],” Sirino noted.

“Sometimes [if] Miguel [Inacio] or someone else is injured, we need to turn to more players, sometimes [Bradley] Cross is playing as a center-back. So, at Sundowns, no, they don’t struggle because there are too many players in all positions, but the quality here is also good.” 

Meanwhile, Sirino has so far made 23 appearances in all competitions since signing for Chiefs, while netting three goals and setting up six more. The 34-year-old attacker will be fired up to make more impact in front of the goals in the remaining matches of the season.

Moreover, the forward will be determined to help Chiefs end a decade-long trophy drought in what will arguably be their most important match of the term on Saturday. This is the club’s first domestic cup final since 2019.