THE off-season transfer market has provided the required entertainment, shocks and drama with unexpected incomings alongside unforeseen exits.
However, the biggest in the country have predominantly been between the so-called ‘Big Three’ and Kaizer Chiefs have already dipped into the armoury of their closest rivals.
While Bongani Sam’s switch from Orlando Pirates caught fire pretty early, Uruguayan attacker Gaston Sirino’s decision to join Amakhosi after his exit from Mamelodi Sundowns has been THE most talked about to date.
A section of the Glamour Boys may be excited to have a man of Sirino’s expertise join their camp, but another side has raised concern surrounding his age and has thrown a history of former Sundowns players donning Chiefs colours.
The most recent ones will undoubtedly be the ‘CBD’ combination of Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly, which didn't quite live up to the billing in Soweto.
If one rolls back the years, the likes of Jose Torrealba, Katlego Mphela and Ramahlwe Mphahlele come up. On closer inspection, some may have made fond memories, but in a general sense, their contributions may have not been to the level expected.
To a certain extent, the anxiety surrounding 33-year-old Sirino could be justified, even more so because the main reason behind Sundowns’ refusal to retain him was his age.
Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi recently opened up about the club’s decision to not forge him as part of the new dawn.
He expressed that the club are looking at administering a reduction in age strategy that will guarantee a sustainable future, something Chiefs are desperate for at this point.
“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,” he explained on Radio 947.
“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.
“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.”
Sirino’s arrival at the Naturena-based club may add much-needed experience but might ‘stifle’ the progression of the likes of Mfundo Vilakazi, Mduduzi Shabalala and even Samkelo Zwane in midfield.
Despite his 41 goals and 44 assists on South African shores, Sirino will need to have an exceptional debut season under new Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi to switch the mentality of former Sundowns players using Naturena Village as a ‘retirement home’.
Given all the pre-match oddities and worries around Sirino’s arrival, it would still not be wise to suggest he may not be a game-changer for Amakhosi.