Rabale bags more accolades

MASERU – Lesotho women’s team captain Boitumelo ‘Queen’ Rabale continues to bag more accolades in South Africa after a scintillating season helping Mamelodi Sundowns retain their Hollywoodbets Super League title.

The talented attacking midfielder played a starring role netting 27 goals in all competitions for ‘Banyana Ba Style’, who also reached the final of the COSAFA qualifier and the CAF Champions League.

Rabale was in December crowned the Hollywoodbets Super League Player of the Season, walking away with M50 000 cash, after helping Sundowns successfully defend their league title, where she scored 24 goals.

The 26-year-old Mehalalitoe star was at it again over the weekend winning the Most Improved Player award at the Mamelodi Sundowns award ceremony for their male and female teams.

She as the top goal scorer of the women’s team along with Namibia’s Peter Shalulile, who is the top goal scorer in the male’s team, were the only players handed awards on the day.

Rabale’s impressive campaign also saw her make the CAF Women’s Champions League team of the tournament having scored three goals as Sundowns failed to defend their title losing to AS Far from Morocco in the final.

The Sundowns star, who came through the ranks playing for the boys’ teams in the dusty grounds of Qoaling is now in contention to win the South African Football Journalist Association (SAFJA) Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

She is contesting for the award against the likes of Mpumi Nyandeni of JVW, Amogelang Motau of UWC, Busisiwe Ndimeni of TUT and Lonathemba Mhlongo of UWC.

“Sundowns recently held the awards for its senior teams in the male and female categories. The only awards that were handed out on the day are those that went to me and Peter Shalulile as the most improved players from both the male and female teams, who also happens to be the top goal scorers from the two teams in the 2022/2023 season,” Rabale said.

“My attention has now shifted to the SAFJA awards because I’m confident of taking it as well. The just ended season was meant for me and I’m very excited.”

The Mehalalitoe star stated she gets to interact a lot of with Sundowns players playing for the male’s team such as Shalulile.

“I interact a lot with Shalulile and he is my biggest critic when I don’t perform well. He will be telling me that I’m lazy, but he is always there supporting and pushing me to perform to the best of my abilities,” Rabale said.

“To be honest, the rest of the Sundowns male team have been very supportive including the coaches and they were all super proud of what I achieved with the club this past season.

“It is always good sharing the platform with them and it was good that I and Shalulile were rewarded because we worked hard for it. It was well deserved for both of us,” she said.

Mikia Kalati