The Rise of Gaston Sirino: A South American Sensation at Mamelodi Sundowns

In a surprising turn of events, Gaston Sirino’s journey to Mamelodi Sundowns was not initially planned, as Pitso Mosimane, the coach at the time, had his sights set on a different striker. Mosimane, on a scouting mission in Bolivia, was eyeing Gilbert Alvarez Vargas but found himself captivated by the skills of Sirino instead.

On that November day in 2017, as Mosimane watched Bolivar La Paz face Jorge Wilstermann, Sirino’s mesmerizing performance, scoring two quick goals, caught the attention of the Downs’ scouting team. This marked the beginning of Sirino’s path to South Africa.

Before Sirino’s arrival, Sundowns were undergoing a transition period with key players like Keagan Dolly, Leonardo Castro, and Khama Billiat departing. The search for new talent led them to Sirino, who was excelling in the Bolivian league while playing for Bolivar La Paz.

Sirino, a native of Salto, Argentina, had a remarkable journey from his hometown to Montevideo, where he honed his skills before making waves in Chile and eventually Bolivia. His move to Sundowns in January 2018 brought him to the attention of South African football fans.

Despite knowing little about South African football initially, Sirino embraced the opportunity to join Sundowns after hearing about the club’s success and Coach Pitso’s welcoming approach. Since then, Sirino has become a key player for the team, winning multiple trophies and earning a reputation as one of Africa‘s top talents.

With his impressive goal-scoring record and ability to create opportunities for his teammates, Sirino has proven to be a pivotal player for Sundowns. His partnership with Mosimane has transcended borders, with attempts to bring Sirino to Al Ahly and Al Wahda showing the mutual respect between player and coach.