Orlando Pirates head coach Abseslam Ouaddou admits Abdoulaye Mariko is an interesting prospect but issued him to learn English in order to quickly integrate into his new surroundings in South Africa.
Mariko, 22, made his debut with a second half cameo which got fans off their seats, with anticipation now high what he could may well offer the club in his debut season after being lured from Djoliba.
He arrives as the Golden Boot winner and Player of the Season in the Malian Ligue 1, while his namesake Abdoulaye Mariko, was also signed from the same club – but will spend the season on loan at Chippa United.
“Mariko is a very interesting young player, he was the top scorer in Mali, he took the award as the best player in the league and top scorer, he’s come in a new environment in a big club,” Ouaddou said.
“He has lots of quality, as you may have seen today, but we still need to improve him and bring him to the high level. It’s not easy when you’re coming into a new country, with new culture – he has to integrate himself to the team, have to learn the lanague.
“It’s the first thing I told him he has to do, to learn English in order to integrate himself in the team – but the expectation for him is like all the players, to give his best and be the best for Orlando Pirates, because there’s a lot of expectation, inside the country and on the continent.
“And he knows that, I think he’s a top man, the personality is good and he’s a good player, yeah.”
Mariko was one of six debutants on Saturday in their 2-0 win over Polokwane City, alongside Sipho Mbule, Sihle Nduli, Oswin Appollis, Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi.
