Banyana Banyana thrashed Malawi 3-0 at the UJ Soweto Campus Stadium on Saturday afternoon as national team legend Noko Matlou bowed out after 17 years of service.
The 39-year-old striker-turned-defender led an emotional afternoon as she calls time on her career as one of the most decorated footballers in the history of the country, and the first-ever South African to win the Women’s African Footballer of the Year back in 2008.
Her long-time teammate Nompumelelo Nyandeni was on the bench and will also receive her farewell with her 150th cap on Tuesday when they face Malawi for a second friendly at the same venue.
But despite the occasion, it was business as usual for Desiree Ellis’ troop with Nonhlanhla Mthandi opened the scoring as early as the 12th minute.
After several early chances to set the tone for the encounter and nine minutes later they doubled their advantage from the spot, with midfielder Linda Motlhalo making no mistake for the hosts.
Mthandi bagged her brace ten minutes into the second half with a close range finish to round off the scoring and a convincing win for the reigning African champions.
Matlou bows out as the second highest capped player of behind her former captain Janine van Wyk, who retired with 185 caps in December as the most-capped African footballer male/female of all-time.
