Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes that Gaston Sirino will be a contender for the Absa Premiership Player of the Year at the end of the season, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Brazilians will be hoping to move one step closer to reaching the Telkom Knockout final when they take on Baroka in the quarter-finals, having claimed the title back in 2015 when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Mosimane believes his side will slowly begin to hit top form when he finds the right combination to his squad.

‘Sundowns’ performances this season have been touch and go, it’s not really free-flowing, and I think you are getting bored of this story,’ Mosimane told the media.

‘We’re trying to put a team together. I am still trying to find the best combinations and it’s not easy, but you know as long as we’re suffering from finding combinations and we are still winning, I think it’s OK, we will get there with time.’

The former Bafana Bafana mentor believes that wing Sirino is a strong contender for the Absa Premiership Player of the Year award.

‘I think Sirino, I told you at the beginning of the season that in my opinion, I think he will contest for footballer of the year at the end of this season. He’s not only scoring, but he is also providing the goals,’ he added.

‘Against Wits, he gave [Hlompho] Kekana a very good ball, against Bloem Celtic he scored, and against Chippa he scored. So, he’s playing well now and we are happy with him. From what I saw in South America in him, we have not exhausted everything from him, he’s got more to give. The goal he scored against Chippa, he’s got more of those goals.

‘If you want to see Sirino’s goals, just Google it. You’ll see how many goals he scores from that kind of goals,’ Mosimane concluded.

Mamelodi Sundowns will take on Baroka in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final on Saturday with kick-off set for 3:30pm.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix