Mngqithi on Sirino: ‘Sundowns do not want to kill Gaston’s career’

Gaston Sirino has appeared committed, giving his best for Mamelodi Sundowns, Brazilians coach Manqoba Mngqithi has said, adding though that if a good offer comes for the Uruguayan and he wants to leave, the club will not stand in his way.

Mngqithi said ahead of his team’s season-opening MTN8 quarterfinal against Kaizer Chiefs that the instruction from Downs’ club chairman Tlhogi Motsepe has been that Sundowns do “not want to kill” Sirino’s career.

At times ill-tempered, match-winning playmaker Sirino made it clear last season that he wanted to follow ex-Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane to Al Ahly, but the Brazilians rejected a lucrative offer from the Cairo giants in the January transfer window.

Mngqithi was asked about Sirino’s state of mind returning from the off-season, as reports of interest from the Egyptian back-to-back Caf Champions League winners have persisted.

“To be honest when he came back from Uruguay he looked very interested, he looked committed to playing for the club, he looked serious about his training and all that,” Downs’ co-coach said.

“Unfortunately he got a knock to his knee, which was a big one. He’s back in training this week but we have not really seen him and how he’s going to come up.

“The truth is that it does not look like he wants to leave.

“But I think the club is also very clear in that space that if he has to leave and people are still interested, they must just bring an offer and the club is very considerate of whatever might happen.

“Because the club does not want to kill Gaston’s career – that is very important from the chairman of the club to the board, and even to us in the technical team.

“If he no longer wants to play for Sundowns, and people are coming with good offers on the table, the club is willing to take that into consideration.

“What is not looking good sometimes is when there is too much talk of what is likely to happen but nothing really happens on the table.

“So at this stage I think it’s a wait and see situation. But in terms of the commitment, the boy looks good, and I don’t have any issues with him and the coaches are very happy with him, to be honest.”

Downs meet Chiefs at Lucas Moripe Stadium in the weekend’s third MTN8 quarterfinal on Sunday.