Lesotho football mourns death of Likuena icon Mpitsa Marai

Lesotho’s football fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the passing of former Likuena defender and coach Mpitsa Marai, who passed away this week following a short illness.

Regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation, Marai will be remembered for his role helping Likuena reach its first COSAFA final in 2000, where they lost a two-legged final to Zimbabwe.

LeFA President Lijane Nthunya described the death as a painful loss to football in the Kingdom for a man, who has been a good servant as both a player and coach.

“We have lost a giant of the game, and this is a sad period for us as the Lesotho Football Association and the football community at large,” LeFA Chief said.

“Lesotho Football can never forget the enormous contribution of Marai as both a player and coach. We pray that God will grant him eternal life and also give his family, friends, colleagues and football community strength at this difficult period.”

After hanging his boots to bring the curtain down on a colourful career, where he represented his country from the junior teams, Marai swiftly moved into coaching and was part of the first group of coaches in the country to attain the CAF A License Coaching Badge.

He was in 2016 roped in as the Likuena assistant coach to the late Moses Maliehe as the national team went unbeaten in their group stage at the COSAFA Cup held in Namibia.

At the tournament in Namibia, Likuena topped their group with nine points after beating Angola, Malawi and Mauritius, where they broke the record of the fastest goal in the history of the COSAFA Cup scored just 34 seconds into the game by Jane Thabants’o in 3-0 victory over the Islanders.

During their tenure in charge of Likuena with Maliehe, the national team reached the semi-finals of COSAFA Cup for three successive years including taking home bronze in 2018.

Marai later worked as the assistant coach to Thabo Senong and also had a spell in charge of the National U23 team working alongside Bob Mafoso.

His death marks the passing of another member of the squad that reached the COSAFA final in 2000 after Tšeliso Thite, Eric Makara and Motlatsi Shale.

Source: Lesotho Football Association