Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel has lauded Gaston Sirino as a ‘high-level’ player and admits as foreigners they have to raise the standard of the team.
Sirino has become an instant fan favourite after his opening two games for the club, bagging a goal and two assists in the wins over Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu.
After six seasons at Mamelodi Sundowns, in which he won six league titles, the 33-year-old is now playing a starring role at the Soweto giants, with Miguel equally creating excitement within the club.
“Sirino brings us a lot of experience you know, he’s a fantastic player, high-level player is he has shown at Mamelodi Sundowns, he’s now proving at Kaizer Chiefs, that he brings many different things in the final third,” Miguel said.
“A lot of creativity, like [against AmaZulu] for example, some wouldn’t believe he would score but from nothing, he got this fantastic goal and with his quality pass he made a good assist, he will give a lot to this team to improve also.”
The Angola international who joined in a R2.5-million transfer from Petro de Luanda says there’s no added pressure on the Uruguayan, who has already secured his South African citizenship after being in the country for another five years but notes they have to be better than local players to justify being signed by Chiefs.
“It’s always normal as a foreign player you need to do more than the others because it’s not my country, I have to adapt to this country and to prove why I was the chosen one – and the most important thing is to remain focused, the hard work you know,” he said.
“That is what I tell the guys, there’s nothing more important than consistent and daily hard work, that will make the difference.”
Miguel and Sirino are both expected to start for Amakhosi when they take on Sundowns on Saturday at FNB Stadium (15h00).
