Nompumelelo Nyandeni: “Blessed to be Amongst African Football Legends” 

Nyandeni is a well-known face not just in the national team but also in women’s soccer. She has been part of the South African national team since her first appearance almost twenty years ago, again in 2006. 

The midfielder has had a front-row seat in seeing Banyana become a force in African football. She reflected on reaching this milestone saying it is something she never thought would be possible. 

“I didn’t even think that I would reach 100, never mind 150. I was just playing soccer and representing my country. I was just doing what I love. I didn’t even expect that one day I will be one of the most capped players in senior women’s football. I was just playing soccer, being a girl from a rural area, just doing what I love, that’s why I said I feel blessed that I am amongst those legends in Africa.”

Banyana Banyana Stalwart, Nompumelelo Nyandeni

A stalwart of South African football Janine van Wyk became the most capped player in the men’s and women’s game in 2024 as she notched up her 185th cap to seal the major feat. Another well-known face who has the second-highest amount of caps is prolific goal scorer Noko Matlou. 

The long-time striker has 176 caps and has been an integral part of Banyana’s rise to prominence over the past few years. Now primarily plying her trade in defence, Matlou was part of the winning 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations team, as well as their runner-up finishes in 2008, 2012, and 2018. She has announced her retirement from the game, and indicating that the friendlies against Malawi will be the last time she runs out in her Banyana jersey. 

Nyandeni who is also a player at JVW says the growth of women’s sport is clear to see and she expressed joy and gratitude for being able to forge a career in a sport she loves.

“I’m proud of myself because I never thought that I would be where I am today. You know, that’s why I say hard work pays off. Just keep working. God will answer your prayers and just keep praying.”

“So for me, women’s football has grown because before you never saw women’s football on TV, you can watch them every weekend and you can watch the league,” says Nyandeni. 

“Football is growing in South Africa and is going in the right direction, and you can see by the amount of players that we have that they’re playing abroad, each country wants to have maybe one or two South African players.”

“It shows that our league and our football has grown, especially when Banyana won the WAFCON,” says Nyandeni. “You can see that slowly but surely we are going in the right direction, even though we don’t have a professional league. 

“I’m hoping that one day, the sponsors will give us the professional league but you can see that in South Africa we have talent. We can thank the Sasol team that they’ve been there since 2009 you know. Thanks to Hollywoodbets as well as SAFA for this opportunity.”

As the anticipation grows regarding Nyandeni’s upcoming milestone she acknowledges the growth of women’s football in South Africa, noting increased visibility on television and the success of players like Banyana. 

“When the young girls watch us on television they tell their parents, I want to play like Mpumi Nyandeni or Portia Modise… Thanks to the SABC and Hollywoodbets our games are now on television, if they can’t go to the stadium they can still see us and they know they can still watch women’s football. This will inspire them to play soccer because they are now able to see us and in that way, we inspire them to achieve their dreams and even achieve more than we have.”

She emphasised the importance of hard work, and discipline, urging young players to stay focused and choose their friends wisely.

“I will say to the young, upcoming footballers, they need to work hard, stay disciplined and carry themselves (well). What is important is how to carry yourself and don’t forget to pray and work hard, because your hard work, is going to pay off. So they need to work hard and leave the friends that have bad habits.”

“Choose your friends but focus on yourself and believe in yourself. So that is most important if you believe in yourself, no one can take that from you.” 

Banyana’s matches will be played on 5 and 8 April 2025 in Johannesburg and will serve as a preparations for the team who are looking to successfully defend their title in Morocco later this year. 

Main Photo Caption: Nompumelelo Nyandeni is about to join an elite club. The Banyana Banyana forward is set to make her 150th after coach Desiree Ellis named her in the squad for their upcoming friendlies against Malawi this coming weekend. All Photos: Supplied

Photo 2 Caption: “I was just doing what I love. I didn’t even expect that one day I will be one of the most capped players in senior women’s football.”

Photo 3 Caption: Nyandeni emphasised the importance of hard work, and discipline, urging young players to stay focused and choose their friends wisely.