Pretoria - Banyana Banyana's Russia-based roving midfielder, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, is in for a Golden Thursday.
Before flying to join her teammates, who are preparing to play Zimbabwe today in the annual Unity Cup, the unassuming Mpumalanga-born player was offered a one-year extension contract by her Russian side, Rossiyonka.
As if that is not enough, Thursday might be a defining moment for the tiny midfielder as she has been nominated as the candidate for the 2011 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Woman Player of the Year to be held in Ghana.
The South African Senior Women's National Team has also been nominated for the Team of the Year award at the same ceremony in Accra, Ghana.
"It might turn out to be a golden Thursday for me and the girls. But for now, I am not even thinking of who will win that coveted title in Ghana.
"I am more concerned about playing a leading role in helping my side beat Zimbabwe, and other things will take care of themselves," she said on the side-lines of a training session at the Rufaro Stadium (Harare), the venue of Thursday's grudge encounter between the neighbouring rivals.
Nyandeni said she was enjoying life in the Russian capital of Moscow and would encourage other African players to give this part of Eastern Europe a try.
"Football is more organised and structured there. Apart from the sometimes biting cold, which is at its peak now, I am having a blast in Russia. The food is fine; I have made lots of friends from other parts of Europe like Romania and Sweden. Generally, I can't complain, though I miss family and friends back in South Africa," she said.
Looking ahead at the Olympic Games in London next year, Nyandeni said getting past the group stages would be a phenomenal achievement for Banyana Banyana.
"Then we can start taking one game at a time. The game of football is unpredictable. People talk of us going there to make numbers, but that is what everyone said about the Japan Women's team which stunned the world when they won the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011," she added.
She said if a few of the Banyana Banyana players could get exposure of playing in Europe, that will help uplift the confidence and spirits of the side.
But for now, her focus is to help Banyana Banyana wallop Zimbabwe.
