Marumo settles in at Bay United

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday October 29, 2010 00:00

 

 Marumo joined the former Premiership club late in August and is already commanding a starting berth at the David Bright-coached side.

The former BDF XI custodian told Mmegi Sport that all is well.

The veteran shot-stopper has started three of the club's five league matches and conceded once.

'I am the first choice [goalkeeper] here and I have played in three of the team's [five] matches. We won one of those and drew in the other two without conceding any goals,' he said.

Marumo, previously at Egyptian side, Haras El Hodoud, feels that settling in PE [Port Elizabeth]  has been much easier than the early days of his stint in North Africa.

'I think I have adapted well to everything here - the Port Elizabeth weather, the food and language. The difference between South Africa and Egypt is that while I was in Egypt, I felt so home-sick but here home is only a few kilometres away,' he added. 

Bay United, relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2008/09 season, missed an early return to the elite league by a whisker last season and Marumo is not sure whether they will make it this time around. They presently sit in third place, trailing log leaders FC Cape Town by three points. Umlilo has amassed eight points from five games.  

'I cannot predict right now because I am still new and I do not know all our opponents, but so far so good. The team looks very solid. I have only conceded one goal and we have scored four goals in the five games we have played so far,' Marumo said.

Marumo has been outstanding in the current Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign in which the Zebras lead Group K with 10 points. He has only conceded two goals in the four AFCON qualifiers that the national team has played.

His utmost desire is to help Botswana qualify for their maiden AFCON finals appearance in 2012.

'I pray day and night for us to qualify for the AFCON. It would make things better if we win against Tunisia at home.' 

While Marumo is enjoying game time, the same cannot be said of Orlando Pirates' Phenyo Mongala, Vasco Da Gama's Dirang Moloi and striker Jerome Ramatlhakwana. JJ, as Ramatlhakwana is affectionately called, recently tried his luck at Vasco, but a deal is yet to materialise.