Banyana Banyana defender Noko Matlou says winning the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and reaching the Round of 16 in a FIFA World Cup will be forever etched in her memory.
The Limpopo-born defender will bring the curtain down on her national team career after she was called up for the two friendly matches against Malawi on Saturday (5 April) and Tuesday (8 April 2025) at the UJ Soccer Stadium in Soweto.
Currently on 173 caps, Matlou made her Banyana Banyana debut in 2006 starting out as a striker before being turned into a defender – a position she still enjoys to this day.
She will go down in history as the first South African to be named the African Woman Player of the Year in 2008, before compatriot, Thembi Kgatlana, followed 10 years later (2018).
Matlou started her football with Development Ladies back home ga-Moletjie in Limpopo, and then ran out for Brazilian Ladies. She also had a stint with the University of Johannesburg before ending up at Ma-Indies Ladies in Polokwane.
In 2021 she signed her first professional contract with SD Eibar in Spain in the second division – and the 39-year-old later helped them gain promotion into the elite league.
At the beginning of this season, Matlou was snapped up by current employers CP Cacereño who are in the second division – this after parting ways with Eibar.
At national team level, the defender featured in her first Olympic Games in London in 2012, and the next one in Rio in 2016.
Beep Beep, as she is known to her peers, has also been two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana: 2019 in France and 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
She will exit the international scene with her head held high after being crowned an Africa Champion in 2022 in Morocco – something that has eluded South Africa for many years.
“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 Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis in an earlier interview.
She last played for South Africa in April last year during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers against Nigeria and has not been called up for the subsequent matches – two away games vs Senegal, Denmark, England and the two end of the year clashes against Jamaica.
CentreCircle.online caught up with Matlou as she was preparing to return to South Africa for her farewell matches with the Malawi fixtures. She is expected to land on Tuesday morning (1 April 2025), on the day the Banyana Banyana training camp starts.
How big of an occasion is this, playing your final match in Banyana Banyana colours?
Nothing can be bigger, this is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life. When you start playing the game, you never think of moments like these, but when they do come you have to look back at what you achieved and smile and move on. Thanks to coach Desiree Ellis for this honour of affording me my goodbyes in front of my home fans.
Speaking of that, how great will it be ending your national team career in front of your home fans?
There is nothing more exciting than that, and I can’t wait to don the Banyana Banyana jersey one last time – and play one last time in front of fellow South Africans who were very supportive of my career and kept us going when times were tough. So this will be very special.
Janine van Wyk calls it the end of an era – with you, her and Mpumi retiring from Banyana – how emotional will that final match be?
Just the mention of those names confirm that indeed it is the end of an era. We all started more or less around the same time and to retire around the same time too is something special – which makes the occasion very emotional especially when I remember where I came from with the team, to where the team is now. I just hope I don’t cry on the day.
(Ed. Note: Van Wyk retired in December last year)
Looking back, what memory sticks out as unforgettable in a Banyana jersey?
There are so many to count, I have been one of the most privileged to ever don a Banyana Banyana jersey – I have played abroad, I have played the World Cup, the Olympics, won the WAFCON and the COSAFA – but what will forever be etched in my memory is being crowned an African Champion with Banyana Banyana and also reaching the Round, of 16 at the World Cup. Those moments I will never forget, I even get goosebumps when I think about them.
Which for you is the biggest match you have ever played for Banyana?
Again too many to count – every game in a Banyana Banyana jersey was special because there are so many that are queuing up to wear that jersey. But I have to single out defeating Morocco in their backyard in the final of the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as the biggest match to ever play in – due to several factors, among them: winning WAFCON gold, nothing surpasses that. But also it was great to see women’s football on the continent with such a huge crowd, some often only seen in men’s football.
With so many challenges in women’s football, what kept you going for Banyana?
Many would want to believe it was easy just rocking up for Banyana Banyana – but we had some challenges yet we kept going and that is why we are where we are today. I think had some of us given up back then, we probably would not have been African champions. Personally, I want to believe discipline and dedication pushed me.
What is your wish for Banyana with the upcoming WAFCON, and what do you think our chances are?
This is one of our greatest achievement as a country and I want to wish them the best of luck. We all know it’s not going to be easy but I still believe we have a chance of defending the trophy – and how remarkable that would be for all.
Which are some of the greatest players you have played AGAINST in Banyana colours?
Many names come to mind but I will have to pick Brazilian great, Marta de Silva, France’s Wendie Renard, American Carly Lloyd as well as Alexa Putellas of Spain.
Which are some of the greatest players you have played WITH in Banyana colours?
South Africa is a country oozing with talent, and just like in the above question, there are just too many to mention as I have seen a lot of good players come and go over the years. But at the top of my head it will have to be Janine van Wyk, Thembi Kgatlana, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Refiloe Jane and Bambanani Mbane, to mention but a few.
How would you like to be remembered in national team colours?
Like I said, we have had to sacrifice a lot to get to where the national team is today – many played a huge role, and we all did our part. But I would like to be remembered as ‘someone who never gave up, someone who always pulled the other person up.’
With your national team career coming to an end, how long still will you go at club level?
It is a fact that time is almost up to hang up my boots, and as I always say, we should always listen to our bodies. So I am still in talks with my body and when the time is right, I will not hesitate, but maybe one more season at this level.
Will we someday see Noko playing club football in South Africa when she is done in Europe?
Home is home, and I have always believed in giving back. So when I am done in Europe, all that experience, and from the Banyana Banyana side I can’t keep to myself. So, yes, I will definitely return home to play again so I can impart some knowledge to the upcoming players because they are the future. We have played our part, so it’s time for them to take the baton and run, and they will need all the help they will get. Things are a lot easier for them compared to our time when we had no one to look up to, so I will round off my playing career at home as a way of giving back and thanking all for the support over the years. Not sure which club I will finish off with, but certainly it will happen back home.
And have you thought what lies ahead for you post total retirement from the game?
I have a lot on my mind, but nothing definite. The most important thing is to spend time with family, something I haven’t done properly over the years due to football – Banyana Banyana commitments and also playing abroad – which included a lot of travel.
At club level you are still within reach of promotion play-offs, how important is that for you?
That for me is the priority! To achieve it will mean a lot and I will bow out with my head held even higher. I was fortunate enough to help SD Eibar gain promotion, and I think it would be even great to see CP Cacereño over the line as it will be the first time we even qualify for the play-offs. That is my current mission at this moment.
By Matlhomola Morake
