Chris Theko
Lesotho international, Litšepe Marabe will be starting his sporting journey in a higher division with a new club in India after the end of his tenure with Fourth Division team Brothers Arts and Sports Club Othukkungal (BASCO) SC.
Marabe moved to India in February 2022 shortly after leaving the Mafeteng based side Bantu, a side which he featured in for many years guiding it to league glory in 2017, 2018 and in 2020.
The 30-year-old was the 2019/20 premier league golden boot winner in which season he scored 14 goals for Bantu.
In an exclusive interview with Newsday Sport this week, Marabe said he had always wanted to prove himself outside the country hence when the opportunity to play in India availed itself he took it.
“I got an offer from BASCO AS and took it as much as it was team that played in the lower division but it was good opportunity that I have been hoping for despite it being only for three months,†Marabe said.
His contract with BASCO was just for three months spanning March through May, which he said he enjoyed despite the challenges of being a new player who is a foreigner and having to proof himself.
“Apart from having to prove myself, I struggled to adapt a bit when I got to India due to the weather, the difference in language and the food but everything else was good and the team was welcoming in general,†he said.
Marabe started in three games and managed to secure a 100% showing having of three goals scored with one assist, and saw his team scoop honours for Group A winners.
Despite having had a successful season with his previous team, Marabe missed out on a call-up for the national team duty as the country begins the journey of contesting in the Group stages for qualifying into the Africa Cup of Nations set for Ivory Coast next year.
Commenting on the matter, Marabe said he is neither worried nor will he be demoralized by the decision of the coaches.
“I am no longer surprised when I do not get the national team call-ups because that is the decision of the coaches. I also do not think I am not national team material.
“Majority of the time I had been left out of the national team is when I was having the best seasons in my football career even competing for the top goal scorer accolade so I can boldly say there was hardly a season I was not performing well,†he said.
Marabe will now be playing for Southern Samity in the Second Division of the Indian League on a three-month contract at the end of which he will be hoping to ascend to a higher division team.
