Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has challenged emerging youngsters to build on their promising starts after Mpho Padime and Simphiwe Masilela impressed when given the opportunity.

The Buccaneers will look to secure their third consecutive victory in the Betway Premiership when they take on Kruger United at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Pirates head into this fixture sitting in top spot in the league, level on 10 points with second placed Mamelodi Sundowns.

Abdeslam Ouaddou has challenged Orlando Pirates’ emerging youngsters to build on their promising starts after Mpho Padime and Masilela impressed when given their opportunity.

Ouaddou believes the club will continue to create pathways for young talent, but stressed that the players must remain humble, dedicated and professional if they are to establish themselves at the highest level.

“Not only him (Mpho Padime}, I think we can include Masilela in the talk. Well, done to both of them. I think Pirates is a club that is giving chances to the young. It’s not the first time, and we continue the process. They did very well, we saw they have great potential,” said Ouaddou.

“Now, they must keep on working, they must keep on being humble, listening to be coachable. It’s only the first game. A career is a minimum of 10 years. When I have an opportunity to give them game time, definitely I will give them.

“But they must still work and be very professional because in football you can go high quickly, but you can fall quickly as well.

“Well done, keep working. Be careful about your life. You have to be professional. Think football, you train, you go home, you rest. You eat good, you drink water and not something else. Don’t smoke, don’t take things that can destroy your body,” he concluded.