Lebogang Ramalepe has taken to Belarus like fish takes to water.
She is enjoying herself in the freezing Eastern European country.
Jumaima, as she is commonly known among her peers, has just lifted her sixth trophy in just three years – four cup competitions and two league titles.
The recent one was in the Belarusian Women’s Super-Cup when her side Dinamo Minsk defeated arch rivals FC Minsk 2-1 in the final earlier today.
Two first half goals from Anna Pilipenko (6th) and Tatyana Markushevskaya (28th) gave advantage to Ramalepe’s club before Wafula Marjolen Nekesa reduced the deficit in the 66th minute.
But Dinamo held on to successfully defend their trophy.
This achievement comes about a week after she had returned to Belarus, following struggles to leave South Africa because of the on-going crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
Amidst the challenges facing the Belarus Football Association (UEFA has barred all Belarussian teams from hosting international games), the Limpopo-born Ramalepe is looking forward to playing in the UEFA Women’s Champions League after they won the league title to qualify.
The 30-year old defender and her club is playing a wait and see game to get confirmation of what the future holds.
But for now, she will bask in the glory of another successful start to the year of winning another trophy in foreign lands.
(Ed: Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, and historically Byelorussia, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest – Wikipedia)
By Matlhomola Morake
