After their impressive goal-scoring contributions last season, Boitumelo Rabale and Melinda Kgadiete have expressed their desires to restore Banyana Ba Style to the summit of continental women’s football in the upcoming season.
Both strikers played pivotal roles as Sundowns Ladies secured a third successive Hollywoodbets Super League title last season and reached the finals of both the COSAFA Qualifiers and the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Their attacking combination plays coupled with their excellent versatility saw the Chloorkop-side score 147 goals across all competitions. Both players bagged a combined 42 goals in the three competitions the team participated in.
On their return to training, Rabale who bagged 27 strikes outlined her goals for the new campaign.
“Putting the ball in the back of the net is always a good feeling because goals help us to win games. However, my aim for the team is to reclaim the top prize in continental women’s football which is the CAF Women’s Champions League. Although we reached the final last year, coming close is not good enough at a club like Mamelodi Sundowns.”
The Lesotho women’s national team captain was on fire last season, scoring three league hat-tricks (against Durban Ladies and twice against Coal City Wizards) and three braces. The attacking midfielder was eventually named Player of the Season at the end-of-the-season Hollywoodbets Super League Awards.
Melinda Kgadiete who was one of the few players to score in all three competitions last season expressed her excitement upon returning to training.
“It feels so good to be back in camp and thanks to the efforts of the technical team, we arrived at training in the best possible way. Preseason preparations are usually intensive as they condition us ahead of the long season ahead. As players, we are committed to the task at hand and I am prepared to give my best as we map out our plans for the upcoming campaign.”
Last season, Kgadiete was part of several attacking formations designed by Coach Jerry ‘Kappa’ Tshabalala in various games at different times. The flexibility of the 30-year-old striker notably allowed her to form partnerships with the likes of Boitumelo Rabale, Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Miche Minnies and Lelona Daweti.
Ahead of the new season, Melinda spoke of her targets, “My ambitions for next campaign firmly align with that of the team which is to secure the CAF competitions. Nothing makes me happier than seeing us claim the COSAFA Qualifiers and the CAF Women’s Champions League as we did two years ago. It’s going to be a huge season and we are confidently looking forward to the three competitions we will participate in.”
Both Boitumelo Rabale and Melinda Kgadiete will be hoping to replicate their goal-scoring feats in the upcoming season as Coach Jerry’s troops seek to dominate every competition they participate in.
