Stalwarts of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, defender Noko Matlou and midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni, will make their final appearances for their country when the African Champions face Malawi in two international friendly matches next month.
Matlou will bring down the curtain on her international career when she runs out for her 174th cap – becoming the second most capped woman player in South Africa after the retired Janine van Wyk who is on 185.
“I have had conversations with Noko, this will be her farewell, I think she served the country with aplomb, if you go back, she started out as a striker and when she turned to being a defender, she became one of the best we have ever had. It’s a thank you for her service, I don’t think we can thank her enough. But we have to get ready the next generations of players for the next WAFCON, the next World Cup which is around the corner,” said Dr Ellis.
“It was a while ago when Noko wanted to stop playing in the national team, but we still felt that she added value, it was really important to make sure that we get the best out of Noko and make sure that she gives all the best. And through that she got these contracts abroad as well and hopefully she can continue playing at club level, but it’s a big thank you to her, I don’t think we can think enough to be honest. She has played in every tournament in women’s football – World Cup, Olympics, WAFCON, COSAFA. She’s done everything she’s done everything possible that she could have done for the national team so for that from the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you to Noko.”
Matlou made her debut in 2006 and last wore the national team colours in the ill-fated Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers against Nigeria in April last year in Abuja and was an unused substitute in the return fixture in South Africa. She has missed out on six national team games – two away clashes against Senegal, Denmark, England, two fixtures vs Jamaica in the Caribbean Islands.
The Limpopo-born defender is now on the books of Cacereño FC in the Spanish Second Division and previously played for SD Eibar in the First Division. She is the first South African to be named the CAF Woman Player of the Year back in 2008 before Thembi Kgatlana claimed the title in 2018.
Matlou was part of the Banyana Banyana squad in the London 2012 Olympic Games and as the 2016 edition. She also was selected for the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and Australia and New Zealand respectively. The defender became the African Champion when she helped South Africa lift their maiden TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022 in Morocco and has won gold several COSAFA Women’s Championships.
Mbuzi, as Nyandeni is known to her peers, will finally close the national team chapter with her 150thappearance for her country against Malawi.
“I have also had conversations with Mpumi (Nompumelelo), she has contacted me about her 150thcap and we couldn’t do it last year because we were not playing in the country, and it is also a thank you as well for her service to the country.”
Currently with JVW in the Hollywoodbets Super League, the Mpumalanga-born player has also made two appearances at the Olympics Games, London 2012 and Rio 2016, but missed out on the World Cup when she was named as one of the standby-players in 2019.
She had a stint in Russia where she played UEFA Women’s Champions League for WFC Rossiyanka. For two years in a row, she was the top goal scorer in the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2021 and 2022.
Nyandeni also played for TS Galaxy Queens in 2023.
By Matlhomola Morake
