On vacation in Bobo-Dioulasso, Ake Sie Adou Mariano Jackiel, player who currently plays at Deportivo Alavès, a Spanish second division club, was kind enough to answer our questions. In the interview he gave us, the young Ivorian-Burkinabe hopeful looks back on his journey. He also talks about his ambitions for the future.
How is your holiday in Bobo-Dioulasso going?
The holidays are going well. I take advantage of this time to train a little so as not to lose the rhythm. I train sometimes with the international Issa Kaboré at the training center of Rahim Ouédraogo in Bama. I also take advantage of the holidays to spend more time with family and friends because it is very important.
Tell us about your debut in football?
It all started for Mariano at IFFA Matourkou in Bobo-Dioulasso with Daouda Sanou dit Famozo. I did a maximum of five years (2014 to 2018) with coach Daouda Famouso, whom I ended up calling Dad, because he had adopted me. It was he who taught me how to play football, how I could evolve and who educated me footballingly speaking. I also don’t forget my coach Arnaud who took me to the IFA Matourkou, while I was playing in the neighborhood in his Armada FC team. As a child, I dreamed of becoming a professional footballer. And I left almost everything to devote myself to football and I put all the means to get there. I know I haven’t reached all the goals I set for myself yet, but by the grace of God I’m fine. I am slowly reaching my goal. And I’m really proud of it.
From Faso to Spain, what was your journey?
Things weren’t easy. From Armada FC, I joined IFA Matourkou. And after a recruitment test, I went to the Tenakourou Academy, the Kassoum Traoré Training Center in 2019 for two years. It was in this training center that my football career really took off. During a football tournament I was detected by a recruiter from Deportivo Alaves who was staying in Burkina. This is how I came to Spain.
Once there, how did your integration in Spain go?
When I arrived in Spain, the environment, the climate, the language, everything was strange for me, but I had to adapt and keep hanging on. And I did. The first year it was difficult because towards the end of the season I had a hip injury, but by the grace of God I had a very good season. This year, I’ve had enough playing time. I did great things, I helped the team and together, everyone (managers and players) is happy.
What is your club’s current position in the Spanish league?
This year we moved up to the first division. We succeeded thanks to the play-off and that too thanks to the work of all the staff. Here we are in the first division. So we came back to La Liga. Me on my side with the reserve we finished second. We played the play-off, unfortunately we lost the final. But we are proud of our season, of the whole team, of the work of the technical staff, of the players, of the friends, of everyone.
How long do you plan to spend Deportivo Alavès?
I signed a three-year contract plus two years of renewal if the club is still satisfied as they are at the moment.
Do you have any proposals from other Spanish clubs or elsewhere?
I can’t talk too much about it right now because it’s happening with my agents. They are the ones who work. I think there are clubs that want me, but I feel good at the moment at Alavès. They are happy with me and they don’t think they’ll let me go any time soon, as the sports director told me before I came on vacation. I leave it to my agents to discuss this aspect. Me, I focus on the field and that’s it.
In Burkina, you have already played with the U20s. Since you are binational, do you often want to play with Côte d’Ivoire if you are called?
I have already done a course with the U20 Stallions. It should be said in passing that already at the time of Daouda Famoso, I played with the U17s in Morocco. Afterwards, I played with the U20s under Dargani, with preparation for Lomé. And it went well, I felt good. It was from there that the desire to play for Burkina Faso began. To say quite simply that I decided to play for Burkina Faso whatever Côte d’Ivoire offered me.
And if the Ivory Coast offers you big, won’t you change your mind?
We are talking about giving big. It shows but me, my decision, it is already taken as I told you. I want and would like to play for Burkina Faso. The situation can change yes, but it depends. But me, it is for Burkina Faso that I want to play. We are not there yet. It takes work to be called up to the national team. It is not enough to say I want to play in the national team and that you are going to play. And for that, I intend to work hard and show the Burkinabè, the coach and the federation that I deserve to wear the jersey of the national team. It is a pride for me to represent Burkina Faso in the near future.
Have you ever been contacted by a federal member on the matter?
Currently not. But I see that people are following me and that makes me very happy. For the rest, it is up to me to prove that I can too.
What advice would you give to young people who want to become like you?
What I can tell them is not to give up on their dream, to keep dreaming above all. But when we talk about dreams, we must also say training. When we talk about work, dreams, we need above all humility. Make yourself small to learn and never let yourself be distracted by those who say you won’t make it. You always have to believe, until you yourself accept that you’ve tried everything, you’ve done everything and it didn’t work. In football, talent alone is not enough. There are many talented players that we have seen finish without having had success. I dreamed, I believed, I never thought I would one day get to where I am today. But I’m here, I’m proud, I haven’t reached a high level yet like my big brothers Bertrand, Alain, Issa, Edmond, Dango…, but I intend to get there. Because these are people I always take as examples. They are the hard workers who are the pride of our country, when I see them, I’m proud of them, it makes me want to work.
How do you view Burkinabè football?
In my opinion, there have been many developments because when I go to the Facebook pages, I see for example the Abdoulaye Soulama prize, which rewards the best goalkeepers and one or two players from the national championship are called into the team. national, it means that the level is good. It is true that we have not yet reached the level of European teams, but there is talent to sell. But we need more stadiums and good conditions. This is what we lack. But it is not only Burkina, it is all of Africa that is concerned. It’s a pride for me, I’m so happy to give my opinion, to talk about myself. I thank all those people who follow me, who continue to encourage me. I thank them because thanks to them I have more courage, more desire and I give my all to make Burkina known where I am.
Interview conducted by
Ousmane TRAORE
