MEHALALITOE captain, Boitumelo ‘Queen’ Rabale was humbled by the heroine’s welcome she received upon her arrival in the country over the weekend following a successful first year with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
sports
Dec. 24, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
Rabale humbled by heroine reception
Mehalalitoe captain, Boitumelo 'Queen' Rabale
Story highlights
Formidable striker was given a heroine’s reception by the Lesotho branch of Mamelodi Sundowns supporters at the Maseru border gate
Sundowns went on to successfully defend their Hollywoodbets Super League title, which came just a week after they were crowned continental champions in Egypt
The formidable striker was given a heroine’s reception by the Lesotho branch of Mamelodi Sundowns supporters at the Maseru border gate, which was later followed by a trendy lunch at the Fafatsa Restaurant in Qoaling.
Rabale inked her name in the history books of football in the Mountain Kingdom by becoming the first player to win a continental trophy after lifting the CAF Champions’ League with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
“I must say, I was really surprised and humbled by the gesture from the Lesotho branch of Mamelodi Sundowns supporters,” she said.
“I have never experienced anything like that before and it made me realise that Basotho love and appreciate me a lot. That will surely push me to always give my best at all the time.”
The 25-year-old won a historic treble in her first year playing for the South African giants. They were crowned regional champions after conquering the CAF Women’ Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in September and with Rabale scoring a third goal in the 3-0 win over the Black Rhino Queens of Zimbabwe in the final.
Sundowns went on to successfully defend their Hollywoodbets Super League title, which came just a week after they were crowned continental champions in Egypt.
“I’m very excited with all the success in my first year at the club. It all looks like a dream. It’s been an unbelievable year for me and the club, especially with the CAF Champions league,” added Rabale.
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“It comes with a lot of hard, discipline and dedication on what you do. That would be my message to young players that have dreams of making it big in football or sports.
“We face a lot of challenges like temptations to drugs and other things, which can really cut short our careers. I urge all the youngsters looking to make a name for themselves in sports to give it the respect it deserves,” she said.
Rabale’s career has attracted success throughout, having twice won the Sasol League National Championship during her time as the captain of Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies.
She was also in 2020 crowned the Junior College All-American and the National Women’s Player of the Year during a two-year stint with the Lewis and Clark Community College, where she was on a football and academic scholarship.
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