Nompumelelo "Mpumi" Nyandeni (born 19 August 1987) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for SAFA Women's League side JVW.

Mpumi Nyandeni
Personal information
Full name Nompumelelo Nyandeni
Date of birth (1987-08-19) 19 August 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth South Africa
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
JVW
Number 18
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
WFC Rossiyanka
-2022 JVW FC (55)
2023-2024 TS Galaxy Queens (7)
2024- JVW FC
International career
20??– South Africa 149 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 August 2014

Mpumi has represented the South Africa women's national football team 149 times, including at both the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

In 2010, she took part in a FIFA campaign for improving health through recreational football together with players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Didier Drogba.[1]

Club career

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Mpumi Nyandeni came through the Mpumalanga-based Detroit Ladies youth system. While a youth player, she competed with older players for positions in the senior side. She subsequently transferred to WFC Rossiyanka in the Russian Women's Football Championship. In 2011, she was selected by FIFA as one of a side of 11 international players to promote health issues among young people; others in the list included Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.[2] While at Rossiyanka, she met Refiloe Jane for the first time, who had been inspired by Nyandeni and would later also become a South African international.[3]

In 2021, she was joint top goal scorer with Andisiwe Mgcoyi with 27 goals helping JVW to a top five finish in the league.[4]

She scored 30 goals in the 2022 season and won the top goal scorer award for the second consecutive season.[5]

She rounded out the season by winning the 2022 South African Football Journalists' Association (Safja) Women's footballer of the year award.[6]

TS Galaxy Queens

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In 2023, she joined TS Galaxy Queens.[7] She scored 7 goals for the club during the 2023 season.

In March 2024, she rejoined JVW.

International career

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Nyandeni was called up to the South Africa women's national football team during the qualification matches for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. She was disappointed to be dropped from the squad, which she attributed to her fluctuating form, but was recalled and later played for South Africa in three matches at the Games itself.[2][8] She has since become one of the most experienced players for the South African team, being one of four players alongside Janine van Wyk, Amanda Dlamini and Noko Matlou who have more than 100 caps each.[9] She was selected once again for the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[10]

International goals

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Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
21 November 2018 Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana   Equatorial Guinea
2–0
7–1
2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ [1] FIFA
  2. ^ a b "Mpumi "Skito" Nyandeni Road To International Stardom And Life And Russia". SA Women. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. ^ Mailwane, Tshepang (22 August 2015). "Ball girl now a star Banyana player". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. ^ Kganakga, Tlamelo (28 March 2022). "HBSL Honours Top 2021/22 Season Performers". gsport4girls. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Sundowns Ladies dominate the 2022 Hollywoodbets Super League Awards - SAFA.net". 4 December 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ^ Mjikeliso, Compiled by Sibusiso. "100-cap Banyana veteran Nyandeni wins football writers' player of the year award". Sport. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  7. ^ Hare, Rudene (4 February 2023). "TS Galaxy Queens Squad Announced for Hollywoodbets Super League Season". gsport4girls. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Mpumi Nyandeni". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  9. ^ Molobi, Timothy (2 August 2016). "Banyana seek redemption at Rio Games". News 24. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Nyandeni, Mpumi". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.