\begin{table}
  \renewcommand\thefootnote{\it\alph{footnote}}
  \begin{minipage}{\textwidth}
    \begin{tabular}{cc}
      \hline
      First\footnote{first footnote} &
      First\footnotemark[1]
      \\\hline
      Second\footnote{second footnote} &
      Second\footnotemark[1]
      \\\hline
    \end{tabular}
  \end{minipage}
  \caption{TEST TABLE}\label{tab:le1}
\end{table}