BDF XI and national team goalkeeper, Modiri Marumo, might be lost to local soccer for good if his trials in the Middle East go well. Marumo left Botswana for trials with an undisclosed team in Egypt. Information reaching Sunday Standard is that Marumo would go for two weeks’ intensive training.
BDF XI coach, Stan Tshosane, also confirmed to Sunday Standard that Marumo indeed left for Egypt on Thursday. Tshosane would not reveal the team Marumo went to but added that it is in the Premier League.
“As the team we have been asked not to reveal the name of the team he went to, but it is a big team in Egypt. There is also a possibility that he might also go for another club because about two teams are interested in his services,” he said.
Marumo’s absence was evident on Thursday when BDF XI lost 2-0 to high riding Uniao Flamengo Santos. Both goals went in after a panic from stand-in goalkeeper. Before Marumo left for Egypt, BDF XI had not conceded a goal in the six games they played. Santos’ danger man, Botlhe ‘Ringo’ Rankgomo, has since broken that jinx by scoring a brace.
If Marumo makes the grade in the Moslem country, BDF XI is going to struggle. Marumo has been their goalkeeper for about a decade. Tshosane is, however, confident that if Marumo leaves they would deal with the problem.
“Obviously nothing beats experience; Marumo is an invaluable player and that is why he went for trials in Egypt. But I am confident that the goalkeepers we have are equal to the task. It would take some time for them to adjust but they would get there,” he said.
Marumo leaves after his heroic performance three weeks ago in a game between Botswana and Egypt for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Although Egypt won the game 1-0 at Cairo Stadium, had it not been for Marumo’s acrobatic saves the score could have been wider.
It also took Egypt 11 minutes before full time to put the goal past Marumo. In the first game in which both Botswana and Egypt played to a goalless draw, it was Marumo again who was the hero of the day and it is not surprising Egyptian teams are after him. The offer looks to be lucrative because Marumo has since made it clear that he would not go for peanuts as once happened when he went for trials in Albania.
