Boitumelo Rabale reveals biggest regret as Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies complete clean sweep

The reigning Hollywoodbets Super League Footballer of the Season, who has just won the Hollywoodbets Super League, CAF Women's Champions League, and COSAFA Women's Club Championship with her club, still has one matter bothering her around her career.

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“That I won’t be able to achieve a lot of things with my national team Lesotho,” the 27-year-old told SABC Sport.

“It hurst because there’s hardly ever a time when we are registered to play international matches like the WAFCON or World Cup qualifiers.

"The only competition we can and have competed in is the COSAFA Cup, so I honestly don’t know what I can achieve with my national team. Maybe I will be one of those great players who retire without ever being at a major tournament.” 

There’s no debate that Rabale is Lesotho’s top female footballer, the accolades are evidence to this and her move to Sundowns in 2021 following a brief spell in Illinois on the back of her breakthrough at Bloemfontein Celtic makes her the country’s most decorated player. 

And the success at Chloorkop with coach Jerry Tshabalala is adequate consolation for Rabale with the treble that was wrapped up earlier this week ahead of the awards ceremony on Saturday night. 

‘Queen’, as Rabale is affectionately known, has again been nominated for the Player of the Season gong alongside striker Wendy Shongwe [AmaTuks] and defender Bongeka Gamede [UWC]. 

“I think I can get a lot of satisfaction and achievements from playing for my club. Right now there’s a possibility we could be playing the FIFA Club World Cup – that’s a big stage,” added Rabale. 

It’s almost hard to believe, but she insisted Sundowns started the season slow, allowing UWC to set the pace only to be toppled in the final weeks as fatigue set in and the Western Cape outfit dropped points, while Downs gained momentum. 

Rabale has scored over 20 goals during the campaign that will officially end after Sundowns play their two remaining games against UJ and AmaTuks. 

“I personally felt I had to raise my game,” explained Rabale. 

“My role is that of a midfielder, but find myself upfront quite a lot…so this means I have to add goal contributions. What I can say is that this season got off to a rocky start, but towards the end we found our feet.” 

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