Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed Gaston Sirino was let go by the club to allow the club’s “succession” to take place and give youngsters more game-time.
Sirino, 33, was one of four players released by Sundowns let go by Sundowns ahead of 2024/25 and the Uruguayan has since joined Kaizer Chiefs.
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There were some question-marks around the reasoning of the club, with rumours around disciplinary issues but Mngqithi refuted those suggestions and insisted it’s based on wanting to give young players more chances.
“To be honest, I like Gaston a lot,” he told Robert Marawa on Radio 947.
“But in life you must also allow for succession to take place.
“When you look at the players that we’ve signed… Now we also have [Siyabonga] Mabena becoming a dominant feature in our team, [Thapelo] Maseko becoming a dominant feature in our team. We’ve got Kutlwano [Letlhaku]. We’ve got Lesiba Nku, who is also doing well. We’ve got [Kobamelo] Kodisang, we’ve got Lucas Ribeiro in those wide channels.
“And Gaston cannot play as a nine, maybe as a false nine, but in a three-man midfielder he’s also not going to be there.
“So we don’t want to stifle the growth and development of youngsters but the truth of the matter is he’s still going to be a very good player. Discipline-wise, he’s very disciplined but we must also allow for the succession to take place.
“And the players we’ve signed are going to maybe prove whether it was the wrong decision for the club to let him go or whether it was the right decision – but let’s just wait and see.”
