Orlando Pirates head coach has spoken glowingly about Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Mariko, suggesting the player has shown significant growth since his arrival at the club and is beginning to fulfil the potential that brought him to the Buccaneers in the first place.
Mariko’s journey at Pirates has been one of gradual integration rather than instant impact, and the coach was candid in acknowledging that the club may have been a little too eager to throw him into the deep end early in the season.
The 22-year-old who was making his 11th appearance for the club has been used sparingly in the second half of the season, as compared to when he first arrived from Djoliba – where he was one the breakout stars in the CAF Champions League and won the Footballer of the Season in his native country in the 2024/25 campaign
“At the beginning of the season, we gave chances to Mariko, he just arrived at Pirates. But he had several months to integrate to the pace of the PSL, the aggressiveness, the environment, very important,” the coach said.
He even admitted that the decision to start the Malian in the fixture against Marumo Gallants earlier in the campaign was perhaps premature, conceding that the technical staff were “a bit hasty” in that instance.
It provided a rare and refreshing piece of self-reflection from a coach, and one that speaks to the thought process behind how Pirates manage their foreign recruits.
“He did well today [Saturday] and you can see such improvement since you saw him last time. He had the opportunity to play forward; he found his passes between the lines. He brings dynamism as well, you can see,” he noted.
“I think it’s very good news for the club, he must keep working.”
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