JVW midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni has thanked Dr Desiree Ellis, head coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, for considering her for the final national team call up.
The Mpumalanga-born midfielder cum forward named in the squad of 23 players to face Malawi in two international friendly matches next month, with Ellis saying this will be a farewell for the JVW player and also help her get to the magical 150 appearances for country.
Nyandeni remains the third-highest capped player in South Africa behind the retired former captain, Janine van Wyk – who is the record holder on the continent for both males and females on 185 matches Noko Matlou, who has also been called up for one last time in Banyana Banyana colours, is second on the list on 173 caps.
“First of all, I would like to say thank you to coach Des (Desiree Ellis) for the call up. I have always been ready to finish off in style because I had not said before that I am retiring, I always kept working hard and remained hopeful. So, when I saw my name being announced it felt like the first ever call up in the national team. I am very happy and I can’t thank coach Des enough,” said an elated Nyandeni.
The call-up has ended a six-year wait for the former WFC Rossyanka outfit in Russia where she played UEFA Champions League football.
Nyandeni was last in the national team set-up in 2019 prior to South Africa’s maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup in France after she was named as one of the standby players.
But she is glad it is finally happening.
“My work speaks for itself, so I am happy because whenever I played, I didn’t play for caps, what was key was representing my country which made me happy. I am really excited that finally the 150th cap is coming and now I feel like a real living legend,” she added.
Nyandeni has had a decorated career in women’s football. Her impressive CV includes two Olympic Games tournaments – London 2012 and Rio 2016. But sadly, she missed out on a World Cup appearance and was not part of the squad when Banyana Banyana became African Champions in 2022 as they lifted the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
She had a stint with TS Galaxy after leaving JVW but was soon back in the colours of the Blue Diamonds where she is currently plying her trade – in the same team that saw her being crowned the Top Goal Scorer in the Hollywoodbets Super League two years in a row: 2021 and 2022.
Nyandeni is in good company in the elite group of players who have reached a century of caps:
- Janine van Wyk (retired)
- Noko Matlou
- Nompulelelo Nyandeni
- Nothando Vilakazi
- Refiloe Jane
- Portia Modise (retired)
- Mamello Makhabane
- Amanda Dlamini (retired)
- Jermaine Seoposenwe
- Leandra Smeda
- Lebohang Ramalepe
By Matlhomola Morake
