Bayana ready for Botswana

Sasol Banyana Banyana will this afternoon hold their final training session at the Isak Steyl Stadium, University of Technology in Vanderbijl Park – the match venue for their international friendly clash against neighbours Botswana.

The match is on Saturday June 7 with a 15:00 kickoff.

The squad has been taken through their paces the whole week by head coach Vera Pauw, who is happy with the returns.

Among those in the squad is striker Mpumelelo Nyandeni, the only overseas-based player selected for this match. She is on the books of Russian side Rossiyinka FC.

Nyandeni has been out of action for a lengthy period due to a knee injury. She sat down with SAFA Media Officer Matlhomola Morake to talk about her return. Here’s her story:

Matlhomola Morake: Welcome back and how does it feel to be in the fold again?

Mpumelelo Nyandeni: I want to thank the coach (Vera Pauw) for giving me the chance to return to the team after such a long absence. So I feel very happy that I am in the set-up again, but I am not hundred percent fit as I am still carrying a knee injury, but just being a part of this group really makes me feel great.

MM: When last did you play for Banyana?

MN: During the 2012 Olympics Games in London, almost two years ago. It’s has been a long time.

MM: So how did the injury come about?

MN: I got the injury last year at my club, when they kicked me behind the knee. It was a terrible injury and very painful, which made walking difficult. But now I am back at training, which shows a lot of progress. I am just glad I am back where I belong, on the field. I stayed out of the game for four months without training due to this injury.

MM: When do you think you will back to 100 per cent fitness?

MN: I am not sure, but I am hoping it is going to be soon. I took some shots at training, made some turns, and it is not as painful anymore, which means I am getting somewhere.

MM: You come to Banyana Banyana you find new faces….

MN: Yes I have been gone for a while so when I got here I saw some new faces and some familiar ones of course. The funny part is that when we are on the field and I want them to pass the ball to me, I first have ask ‘by the way who is that?’ It’s also a good thing that we have new faces in the team, which shows that South Africa has a lot of talent, and the experienced players can impart that knowledge so that South African football can move forward and be strong.

MM: How did you feel being on the sidelines, while the others were playing?

MN: After my injury, I made a huge mistake by returning to South Africa in April, but did not tell anyone. When the coach (Pauw) enquired about me from my club, she found that I was already back home. She then invited me to come to the team to have a look at me. I went to their camp before they played Ghana and wished them well. It was good to see the team playing so well, which is an indication that we are not a one-man team. I was also glad to know that we have qualified for the AWC in Namibia, and I am confident that we will qualify for the World Cup. It shows progress.

MM: You still haven’t answered my question……..