Banyana Banyana's Leandra Smeda makes history in Uefa Women's Champions League

Banyana Banyana player Leandra Smeda became the first South African to score in a Uefa Women's Champions League match this week.

Playing for her Lithuanian club Gintra Universitetas against Finnish side Espoo FC Honka, Smeda netted deep into stoppage time to make it 1-1. 

Smeda admitted that she is enjoying her football in Lithuania, and perhaps of the reasons why she continues to fly the South African flag higher.  

“I am really enjoying myself here, and I am glad I made the move. Life is very good, and yes I do miss home but thanks to technology I get to speak to them almost every day," Smeda was quoted as saying by The Citizens. 

“What is also helping the situation is that there is just one hour difference and that makes things a lot easier for me to contact my family and friends,” she said.

Smeda emulated Banyana midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni by becoming the second South African player to play in the Uefa Women's Champions League. 

Nyandeni is currently on the books of Russian outfit WC Rossiyinka. 

The attacker said she wants to play as many matches as possible in order to be ready for this year's African Women's Cup of Nations in Ghana, and possibly a qualification to the 2019 Fifa World Cup in France.  

“To be honest, I am glad I came here. This league will give me the kind of preparation I need for the African Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana later this year," she continued.

“I am really looking forward to that tournament because we want to qualify for the World Cup – our league ends in October so I will definitely be back home," she added.