Nompumelelo Nyandeni has done almost everything in the game of football.
Born in Natalspruit, Gauteng 35 years ago, she moved to Mpumalanga with her family at a tender age of three.
Her love for the game started when she would accompany her brother to football matches, and soon she was hooked.
In 2010 Nyandeni was one of those selected to take part in a FIFA campaign for improving health through recreational football alongside great stars like Didier Drogba (Cote d’Ivoire), Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal).
She spent four years – from 2010 to 2014 – on the books of WFC Rossyanka in the cold of Russia. Whilst there, she became the first South African to play in the Women’s Champions League and even reached the quarterfinals.
Nyandeni also made her Banyana Banyana debut at the age of 14 – and went on to feature in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the COSAFA CUP, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and several friendly matches.
But one piece of the puzzle is missing – a World Cup appearance.
She had high hopes of achieving that dream when Banyana Banyana qualified for their maiden tournament in France in 2019, but the midfielder did not make the final squad.
With South Africa going to the 2023 edition of the competition in Australia and New Zealand, the JVW captain knows this could be her last chance if she is to ever to grace that world stage.
The seasoned player should have retired from the game in 2014 after a knee injury stopped her successful career in its tracks while playing in Russia, and she decided to return home to South Africa.
She was rescued by former Banyana Banyana head coach Vera Pauw (now coach of Ireland Women’s National Team) who invited her to the national team where she would receive proper rehabilitation.
She then joined JVW who were campaigning in the Sasol League at the time – and has never looked back.
Two years ago Nyandeni helped the side to promotion into the elite women’s football league – the Hollywoodbets Super League.
In their first season they finished fourth in a 14-team league with the midfielder instrumental as she hit the back of the net 27 times to share the Golden Boot award with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ Andisiwe Mgcoyi.
But she was not to be denied in 2022.
Nyandeni is the league’s top goal scorer with 30 strikes, which helped JVW end in fourth position for the second year in a row.
The season for the Bedfordview-based club kicked off like a runaway train and they found themselves at the top of the table at some point in the campaign, but fizzled towards the end.
But that did not stop Mbuzi from being the shining light in her team, and leading by example.
JVW won 19 of their 30 matches, lost eight and drew three.
They finished on 60 points, 22 behind winners Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
The Blue Diamonds were the second best scoring team in the campaign (82) behind the league champions, the Brazilians (126).
While not on the field, Nyandeni can be found on the side-lines shouting instructions as she is the coach of one of the JVW junior teams. She led her young squad to victory in the 2022 ELFA Winter League in August.
CentreCircle.online caught up with Nyandeni before the Hollywoodbets Super League awards this coming weekend (Saturday, 3 December 2022) in Johannesburg.
Congratulations on being the top goal scorer in the Hollywoodbets Super League – it must be a great feeling?
Thank you so much, I am happy because it shows that my hard work has paid off. Gratitude goes to my teammates, coach, fans and my family for pushing me all the way.
Of the 30 goals you scored this season, is there any special one?
I have three special goals: one was against Sundowns Ladies – I scored with my heel with Andile Dlamini (Banyana Banyana number one goalkeeper) in goals. The second was against Ma-Indies Ladies which was a header from outside the box, and the third I used my knee when we played newcomers Vasco da Gama.
How important is this season’s award, considering you could have won it last season as well but had to share it with Andisiwe?
Personally, I’m happy but I would be even happier if JVW won the league or finished second – but we will take fourth place anytime. Last season it came as no surprise when I shared it with Andisiwe (Mgcoyi) because she’s a good striker, but this season my goal was to net 30 so I am glad I achieved my target.
At your age (35) most players are slowing down, but you keep on rising, how do you do it?
Nothing beats discipline, dedication and determination! I respect the game so what’s why most of the time I work hard to achieve my goals, because each and every season I set the goals for myself to achieve. I don’t focus on my age, but on what I must improve on in the next game – that for me is important.
What advice can you give to the up and coming young players?
They must know what they want and stay away from the bad things that would distract them from the game. They must also set goals for themselves and work hard to achieve those goals. They must also not forget to pray at all times – and stay disciplined, dedicated and determined. Most of all they must respect the game, and the game will respect them back.
There were some coaching changes to the JVW team – but you all continued to deliver. What can you attribute that to?
You can’t stop the changes or avoid them and they happen to most sides, but it helps to have experienced players in the team. In addition, we knew what we wanted and we pushed each other, hence when there were coaching changes not many saw the difference.
JVW finished fourth this season and last season – is that a fair reflection of the squad? Do you think you could have done better?
I strongly believe we had a chance to finish top or even second, but injuries as well as playing too many games in a short space of time (like weekend and midweek) did not help. 2021 was our first season and we were happy to finish fourth, our goal this season was to better that but we couldn’t so we will take number four any day.
JVW started well at the beginning of the season – and were top at some point – where do you think things changed?
Like I said, the main thing that really derailed us were injuries to several players and just back to back games which were too close to each other.
Can JVW challenge for the league next season?
Of course yes and we have the ability to do so. I believe if we could train maybe four times a week that is very achievable. If you think about it, currently we are training only two times a week and we managed fourth place, so it is possible to challenge for the title.
How much has the League improved this season – if at all?
The Hollywoodbets Super League has really improved and there are no more easy games which is good, you have to be thoroughly prepared for every match. Also, a lot more people now know about women’s football and that helps bring the competitive edge. I would like to thank SAFA, HOLLYWOODBETS, and the SABC for the hard work they put in for us, as well as all who supported women’s football, including the media.
In 2019 you were left out of the Banyana Banyana World Cup squad – is that pain still there or have you moved on?
Of course it hurt because I was looking forward to the tournament, but with time I have managed to get over it – you can even see from my performance in the league that I am now focused on my game, and working harder every day to improve with each match.
You are now on 149 caps, how important, if at all, will it be to get that 150th cap? And do you think about it at all?
Oh yes, I would really love to get that one cap but the fact is it is not in my hands and only God knows what will happen. All I need to do is focus on the job at hand and just continue improving myself.
Looking at the draw, what do you think of our chances in the World Cup in 2023?
The truth is there are no small teams anymore and at World Cup level every team comes prepared, so we also have to do the same and be ready for anything. Just look at the current World Cup in Qatar, anything is possible.
How long still do you have to play football – or is retirement far from your mind?
What is important is that I am still enjoying my football – even the results on the field can attest to that. As for retirement, it is far from my mind, but I do know that someday I have to face that reality. For now the focus is on winning things with JVW.
Having played Champions League football and even gone abroad, what do you still want to achieve?
Playing in the World Cup would complete the puzzle for me – it is the only stage I would still love to see myself perform on. That is the one thing missing in my career!
By Matlhomola Morake
