Letsatsi Selikoe
BANTU attacking midfielder, Lit?epe Marabe, says it is?too early to give up?on their?bid to defend their Vodacom Premier League (VPL) title even though their chances?of?retaining?it appear to be getting slimmer.
The?bid to win the title has become?a three-horse race with a few games remaining to?close the season.
Just three points separate log leaders,?Lioli?FC,?who?have?57 points,?and?second placed?Matlama?FC?with 54.
Marabe’s?third?placed?Bantu?have?53 points.
Lioli and Bantu are left with five games to wrap up the race while Matlama are left with six.
With?many having?started?to?rule out?Bantu out of the title race, Marabe?acknowledges?that his team’s chances of retaining the title?are getting blurry. That has?placed everyone in the team under pressure, especially senior players like him, he says.
“It is a difficult situation to be in.?However, we have been in tough situations before, and we know how to handle them,” he?told the?Sunday Express.
“We have?five?games left, and we’re going to fight hard for every point. We need our fans to be behind us every step of the way. Their support means the world to us – it gives us the strength and motivation to keep going.”
The 32-year-old Marabe is currently amongst the?top scorers?in the ongoing?league?campaign. He so far has 14 goals under his name, behind?Tumelo Khutlang of Lioli and Lemohang Lint?a of Limkokwing University?who?have?16 goals apiece.
Technically, Marabe is in the race for this year’s golden boot, but he is not putting himself under any pressure.
He says?he just wants?to continue playing?good football and let the rest fall into place. However, he admits?winning?the?golden boot would be a prestigious achievement.
“I am not setting out to win the golden boot. I want to focus on playing well and letting the rest fall into place.
“Of course, it would be an honour to win it, but that’s not my main goal right now,” he said.
Marabe is still the top goal scorer of his generation with 22 goals per season. He achieved this feat in 2014/15 season, still playing for Bantu.
He was just eight goals behind Lesotho’s all-time highest scorer in a single season, Lire Phiri. The retired Likuena and LDF marksman netted 30 goals in the 2000/21 season.
Marabe said it is through hard work, dedication and God’s given skill?that?he keeps on shining.
“I am so grateful to God, who has blessed me with the opportunity to play this beautiful game and achieve what I have. I know that it wasn’t due to my own merits – it was all through God’s grace,” he said.
Marabe said Phiri is one of the players he has been looking up to and he believes he still has what it takes to surpass Phiri’s mark of 30 goals.
“I admire the great Phiri, who was a goal-scoring legend in his own right. He continues to be an inspiration to me, and I hope to surpass his achievements. This journey is just beginning, and I look forward to what the future holds.”
Marabe’s parting advice to young athletes?is?to never stop dreaming, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
“It is important to have role models who inspire you. Find someone you admire and learn from the good things they do.
“And remember, dreams can come true. It may not be easy, but if you work hard and believe in yourself, anything is possible,” Marabe said.