Orlando Pirates are amazed by their new Malian player, but he has something to prove first!

Ouaddou is happy with his new player, but...

Abdoulaye Mariko

South African club Orlando Pirates have secured the services of Malian Abdoulaye Mariko in the current transfer window. The club's new Moroccan coach, Abdeslam Ouaddou, has confirmed that their new player has already made a good impression with the team, but first he has to finish some good things for things to go well, according to Moroccan coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

The 22-year-old featured as a substitute in the opening match of the MTN8 against Polokwane City, which the Pirates won 2-0, and when he came on as a substitute he made a great impression on the fans and the Pirates technical team as well.

What is the step revealed by the Moroccan coach that the Malian must master?

The Moroccan mentor's voice carried both admiration and measured caution as he reflected on his Malian protege's first outing in black and white. "That touch, that vision - you witnessed it today," Ouaddou nodded, acknowledging the flashes of brilliance that drew murmurs of approval from the Orlando Stadium faithful during Mariko's second-half introduction.

“Mariko is a very interesting young player, he was the top scorer in Mali..." Abdeslam Ouaddou.

🎙"He took the award as the best player in the league and top scorer... He has lots of quality, as you may have seen today, but we still need to improve him and bring him to the high… pic.twitter.com/f587J8Qnl2

— 🅵🆁🅰🅽🅲🅾 (@ZukzFranco) August 3, 2025

Yet beneath the praise lay the sobering reality of continental transition. The coach leaned forward, his tone shifting to that of a guide preparing a traveler for rough terrain: "Imagine landing in Joburg from Bamako - new streets, new sounds, new silences between teammates because the words don't flow yet." His index finger tapped the table for emphasis. "That's why my first instruction wasn't about tactics - it was 'Learn English like your career depends on it. Because right now, it does.'"

The weight of expectation hung unspoken in the pause that followed. Ouaddou's gaze turned steely as he articulated the unrelenting demands of Pirates' jersey: "This club doesn't sign players - it signs promises to millions. Abdoulaye's talent is just the down payment." The room seemed to hold its breath as he delivered the challenge that would define Mariko's South African journey - not merely to adapt, but to ascend.