Banyana Banyana to honour greats Noko Matlou and Nompumelelo Nyandeni at Malawi clashes

As Banyana Banyana prepare for their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) defence in Morocco in July, the team has made space to honour two veterans who are set to retire from international duty.

Defender Noko Matlou and midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni will don the national team colours for the final time when Banyana Banyana tackle Malawi in two international friendlies — on Saturday, 5 April and Tuesday, 8 April.

As much as the fixtures will help coach Desiree Ellis and her technical team iron out the kinks in the team in the build-up to Wafcon, eyes will primarily be on the two greats as they bid farewell after years of great service for the national team.

Matlou’s mark

Matlou made her international debut in 2007 against Nigeria. The Limpopo-born star is the second-most capped South African soccer player of all time, with more than 170 caps. Her former defensive partner Janine van Wyk leads the pack with 185 caps.

Matlou’s career was filled with many other barrier-breaking achievements, as Ellis told journalists during a training session in Auckland Park on Thursday.

“She was the first [South African] player to win the African player of the year. She’s been to the Olympics, she’s been to the World Cup, she’s won a Wafcon gold medal... Noko has done everything. She’s given great service. Even if she didn’t play, she was still a model professional,” said Ellis.

Desiree Ellis. (Photo: Muzi Ntombela / BackpagePix)

From striker to defender

When Matlou was crowned the best women’s player in Africa in 2008, she was a striker, a lethal one at that.

However, when Ellis’ predecessor, Vera Pauw, arrived to coach the team in 2014, she suggested to Matlou that owing to her physique and strength, she could be a great defender.

“She started out as a striker, and she was very good,” said Ellis. “Then coach Vera came into the country and, to be honest, Noko would have struggled to make the team at the time because of the players that were playing in that position.

“Coach Vera saw something in Noko and played her as a defender. And everyone was asking, why? But she went from being a goal-scoring striker to a top defender.”

“It was not easy at first,” said Matlou (39), who plays for the Spanish club Cacereño Femenino. “But having players like Janine van Wyk helped me adjust well to playing at the back.”

Nyandeni’s last dance

Unlike Matlou, who has been an important part of the Banyana Banyana setup in recent years, Nyandeni (37), who debuted for the side in 2002, last played for her country in 2019. However, the JVW midfielder will earn her 150th international cap against Malawi on Saturday.

Nompumelelo Nyandeni of JVW during a Super League clash against University of Fort Hare in Soweto on 23 March. (Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix)

“Mpumi came in as a 15-year-old. I was sort of stepping out [of playing for Banyana], and she was stepping in,” said Ellis of Nyandeni. “She was a revelation, very gifted and skilful. She’s part of a lot of the success of the national team… We cannot thank her enough.”

Nyandeni and Matlou represented South Africa at the 2012 Olympics — the first time Banyana Banyana had qualified for the tournament.

Nyandeni paid tribute to Matlou and said she was honoured to be walking away from the national team alongside her fellow great.

“Noko and I did our part. Now we’re making way for the young kids. I’m happy that Noko is still playing overseas… She did her best. I’m happy to be retiring at the same time as her.”

As Nyandeni and Matlou step away, some Banyana Banyana starlets are ready to seize the baton. One such player is 19-year-old

Tanna Hollis of South Africa challenges Mantiti Tlholoane of Lesotho during the international friendly in Soweto on 25 February. (Photo: Sydney Mahlangu / BackpagePix)

Tanna Hollis, a striker for Super League side JVW.

Hollis received a standing ovation for a stellar performance when she was substituted during Banyana Banyana’s most recent outing, a 2-0 win over Lesotho in February.

With Nyandeni being her teammate at club level, Hollis says she has learnt a great deal from the veteran midfielder. Matlou’s journey has also inspired Hollis.

“The lessons I’ve learnt from them is that you have to enjoy playing football. You can’t always take it super seriously, otherwise you won’t be effective in the game. Mbuzi [Nyandeni] always plays football with a smile on her face. So that’s what I’ve learnt from her,” Hollis told Daily Maverick.

“For me they will remain legends of the game, because without them Banyana would not be where it is today. They’ve added a lot of value and influence,” said star striker Thembi Kgatlana of her colleagues.

The first farewell friendly will be played at 3pm on Saturday at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus. Tickets are available at Ticketpro, costing R50 for adults and R20 for children under the age of 12. DM