Gaston Sirino expresses his views on the prospect of representing the South African national team

Image: Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs forward Gaston Sirino has recently addressed the potential of representing the South African national team, Bafana Bafana.

The 33-year-old, originally from Uruguay, has spent the past six years playing in South Africa, rendering him eligible for national selection through residency.

In a media engagement, the experienced winger acknowledged the challenges associated with earning a call-up to the national squad.

"Naturally, every player aspires to represent a national team. I now find myself in a position where playing for Bafana Bafana is a possibility. However, the reality is that I am not young, and South Africa has a wealth of talented players," Sirino stated.

He went on to commend the current state of the national team: "Bafana Bafana are performing well and playing with a renewed style, which is encouraging. Uruguay is a small nation with a population of around 3.5 million, yet we produce many high-calibre players."

Sirino conceded that his chances of selection are slim, noting the competitive nature of international football.

"Most national team players are based at top-tier clubs, which makes it difficult for others to break through. Sometimes, securing a place in a national team also comes down to luck. In Uruguay, there is an abundance of world-class talent," he added.

Despite the odds, Sirino expressed contentment with his life in South Africa. "I am very happy here with my family. The people here have become like family to me, and I truly feel at home."

Given head coach Hugo Broos' reluctance to naturalize foreign-born players as evidenced by his decision not to pursue Brazilian-born Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who is just 26 Sirino's prospects of donning the Bafana Bafana jersey remain minimal.