Sirino blow won’t halt Sundowns’ charge
GASTON Sirino won’t cost Mamelodi Sundowns their ‘La Decima’, according to one of the PSL’s most decorated coaches.
The Brazilians are one title away from clinching their 10th league triumph and if they succeed in their efforts to dethrone Kaizer Chiefs at the summit of the Absa Premiership table, it will be a hat-trick of league crowns for the defending champions.
The big question is, however, can they do it without Sirino?
The striker is set to miss two games after the PSL’s disciplinary committee finally handed him their verdict yesterday after Sirino was found guilty of assaulting the SuperSport United duo of Clayton Daniels and Dean Furman in an MTN8 clash on September 18, 2019.
He was also fined R75 000, of which R25 000 is suspended for a period of 24 months, on the condition that he doesn’t commit an identical offence. Sundowns, meanwhile, were ordered to pay a R200 000 fine, of which R150 000 is suspended, with the same conditions.
Former Sundowns coach
Gordon Igesund, who boasts four league crowns, told Independent Media yesterday, however, that the suspension of Sirino won’t affect Sundowns’ chances of chasing down Chiefs.
“This is part of football,” Igesund, who won one of his league titles with the Brazilians, explained.
“Every single team in South
Africa has had a player suspended at some point in a season. It doesn’t matter when it comes in the season. You’ve got to live with that but I think Sundowns have got too much quality in their team.
“They can field two teams and still have a very strong side. I don’t think it will affect their performances or cost them the league.”
Sundowns are four points behind log leaders Chiefs but have a game in hand.
If the league does resume – and discussions regarding that point of order will be plotted today by both Safa and the PSL in a meeting – Sundowns will face fourth-placed Orlando Pirates in their next game and Sirino will miss that encounter.
“Yes, he has had a good season and played well, but it is the same like any other club. Pirates have had players suspended... Bidvest Wits, Chiefs and SuperSport United, the same. Obviously it will all depend on what will happen with the league,” Igesund said.