Gaston Sirino booed, but Kaizer Chiefs coach said he heard joyful fans chant: Sirino, Sirino!

Kaizer Chiefs' assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has come out in support of Gaston Sirino after the midfielder missed two crucial scoring opportunities during the 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

A sense of frustration marked Sirino's performance. On the stroke of halftime, he saw his penalty saved by Gallants' goalkeeper Washington Arubi. Later, he missed another golden chance early in the second half, sending the ball over the bar. Had he converted either of those opportunities, the Glamour Boys could have easily been 2-0 up, increasing their chances of securing three much-needed points.

Despite his struggles in front of goal, which have left him with only one goal and one assist in seven league appearances this season, Ben Youssef underlined Sirino's importance to the team. At the post-match presser, the media asked him about disgruntled fans booing Sirino after he was substituted.

“I saw fans that were happy with Sirino when we made the substitutions; they were saying ‘Sirino, Sirino!’” the coach remarked. “He is a big player, an important player for us.”

The coach empathised with the player, acknowledging that it’s part of football for players to miss penalties: “He tried his best, but the Gallants’ keeper was ready and saved the penalty. Sirino is confident and knows his quality will help the team.”

Chiefs’ luck appears to have waned in recent matches. This draw marked their third consecutive game without a win across all competitions, raising concerns as they prepare for a critical CAF Confederation Cup clash against Angola's Kabuscorp on Saturday.

Chiefs find themselves needing to turn things around after suffering a 1-0 defeat in last week’s first leg in Luanda, leaving them with a mountain to climb on home soil.

The match against Gallants saw new signing Khanyisa Mayo score on his debut, providing Chiefs with an early advantage. However, substitute Jaisen Clifford’s late equaliser cancelled out Mayo's goal, with the match ending in disappointment for the home team.

Amidst the on-field uncertainties, speculation surrounding the future of head coach Nasreddine Nabi compounds the team's challenges. Discussions continue regarding his contract termination, leaving Ben Youssef and assistant Cedric Kaze to steer the team through this turbulent period.

Ben Youssef expressed the urgency of Saturday's match, saying, “I think the next game is crucial. I hope we will win and qualify for the next round on Saturday.”

With the looming uncertainty surrounding head coach Nasreddine Nabi’s future also in the background, supportive performances from players like Sirino will be crucial in reigniting the team's aspirations both domestically and on the continental stage.