Mpumi Nyandeni

Mpumi Nyandeni is a South African women's footballer and plays as a midfielder. She plays for WFC Rossiyanka in Russia at a club level, and has represented the South Africa women's national football team more than 100 times, including at both the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Club

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. 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.

International

She 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. She has since become one of the most experienced players for the South African team, being one of four players alongside Janice van Wyk, Amanda Dlamini and Noko Matlou who have more than 100 caps each. She was selected once again for the squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.