Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has given insight into what to expect from new signing Abdoulaye Mariko after joining the club during the off-season.
Mariko made a dream debut for Pirates in the 2-0 victory over Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-finals, showing off silky skills in his first appearance after coming on for Sipho Mbule during the second half.
Besides Mariko, the Buccaneers also handed Sihle Nduli, Oswin Appollis, Yanele Mbuthuma, and Tshepang Moremi their debuts during the match against Rise and Shine.
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Ouaddou has since described the Malian midfielder as the brightest prospect and predicts a great future ahead of him at Pirates.
"Mariko is a very interesting young player. He was the top goal-scorer in Mali, and he took the best player and top scorer award. He come to a new environment in a big club.
"He has a lot of quality, as you have seen today (Saturday). But we still have to improve him and bring him to the highest level. It's not easy when you are coming to a new country, with a new culture. He has to integrate himself into the team and learn the language," Ouaddou said to media after the MTN8 match in Soweto on Saturday.
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"The expectation for him is like all the other players, to give his best for Orlando Pirates, because there is a lot of expectations inside the country and the continent, and he knows that. I think he is a top man, good personality, and he is a good player," he added.
Pirates have been drawn against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals.
