LDF Ladies start on the back foot
The Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) Ladies began their campaign in the inaugural Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Women’s Champions League with a big loss 6-0 against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa yesterday. LDF lost 6-0 to Sundowns who were clearly a far better side compared to the Lesotho team.The Lesotho champions conceded the first goal as early as 14th minute and the second goal five minutes later, both goals in the first half. LDF conceded the other four goals in the second half.
It took LDF 29 minutes to have their first shot on target and in three shots in total throughout the game, including two shorts off target, compared to Sundowns who managed 11 shorts on target and 14 shorts off target.
While the LDF players could not shine in Durban yesterday, Lesotho international, Boitumelo Rabale, who was introduced in the second half added to the LDF team’s woes as she completed Sundowns’ sixth goal thriller on the day.
Rabale, who’s intention was clearly from the beginning, made her presence felt immediately after she stepped onto the field. Rabale won a free kick after she was fouled from behind outside the eight areas.
Known as Queen,
Rabale took that free kick herself but shot slightly over the crossbar. It was
a good long-range shot though, which saw her Sundowns teammates and technical
team giving her a round of applause for the attempt. 
LDF Ladies players in one of their training session in Durban before yesterday's game against Sundowns Ladies
However, that was not over for Rabale. She took another free kick few minutes later after, and that time around she found the back of the net into the top centre. It was also a long-range shot.
One of the match commentators even said Rabale would definitely get a call-up to the Banyana Banyana squad, saying in fact Rabale was one of the favourite players coming to yesterday’s match.
This was not the first time the South Africans thought Rabale was from South Africa.
Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, once wanted to call-up Rabale in the previous years while she was still playing for Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies, only to be disappointed when Rabale told her that she was actually from Lesotho and was the captain of the Lesotho women national senior team, Mehalalitoe.
LDF Ladies next match will be against Manzini Wonderers of Eswatini tomorrow.
Wonderers also lost their opening game of the competition to Double Action Ladies of Botswana who beat them 3-0, also yesterday.
LDF face Double Action in their last game of the competition next week Monday.
The COSAFA Women’s Champions League is the qualifiers of the inaugural Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League to take place later this year.