Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has heaped praise on new recruit Abdoulaye Mariko following his debut in the Buccaneers’ 2-0 MTN8 quarter-final win over Polokwane City.
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The 23-year-old forward, who joined the Soweto giants from Djoliba AC after winning both the Mali Ligue 1 Player of the Season and Golden Boot awards, was handed his debut on Saturday evening and gave a glimpse of what’s to come in the famous black and white.
“Mariko is a very interesting player, a young player,” Ouaddou told journalists after the match.
“He was the top scorer in Mali. He was the best player as well. He took the awards of the best player and the top scorer. He came in a new environment at a big club. He has a lot of qualities like maybe you’ve seen today.”
While the Mali international showed flashes of potential, Ouaddou stressed that the player’s transition into South African football is only beginning.
“He still needs to improve and get to the high level. It’s not easy when you come into a new country with a new culture,” he said.
The French-born coach emphasised the importance of integration, particularly learning English, for Mariko’s growth at the club.
“It’s what I told him. The first thing that he has to do is to learn English in order to integrate himself into the team. That’s very important.”
Despite the language barrier and the challenges of adjusting to a new football environment, Ouaddou is confident about the attacker’s future at Mayfair.
“The expectations for him are like all the players — to give his best and to be the best for Orlando [Pirates], because there is a lot of expectation in the country, and even outside the country. He knows that. I think he is a top man.”
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