Banyana Banyana star defender Lebogang Ramalepe has revealed she decided to return to join Sundowns Ladies to rediscover her best form ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Banyana Banyana star defender Lebogang Ramalepe has revealed she decided to return to South Africa so she can rediscover her best form ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winner signed with Sundowns Ladies after enduring a difficult period with Dinamo Minsk in Belarus due to injury and contractual disagreements. With the World Cup only a few months away, the 31-year-old decided she’d get a better shot at making the squad playing at home where coach Desiree Ellis would get a chance to have a closer look at her performances in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“To be honest, things weren’t going well for me in Belarus and after I got injured, I decided that I’m not going back and that I wasn’t happy with my contract as well and things began to change,” said Ramalepe as quoted by IOL.
“Coming back home, I thought I’ll fit best at Sundowns
“And I also need to be closer to home in order for me to reflect and try to get back to my best, so I thought I will fit well at Sundowns and it also gives me a chance to be looked at a closer range by the Banyana Banyana coach ahead of the World Cup.”
Although in her thirties now, Ramalepe is still hopeful of a possible return to Europe and wants to use both Sundowns Ladies and the World Cup to market herself.
“I want to market myself at the World Cup so I can go overseas again. It’s motivating me that I had a few overseas offers before I came to Sundowns. I couldn’t take those offers because I was still injured and Sundowns were so understanding by signing me when I was not fit.”
