From this coming Sunday (26 March 2023), Tzaneen in Limpopo will be abuzz thanks to a football tournament of a different kind.
Women over the age of 50 will be on field displaying their football talent when they take part in the first ever Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT), hosted by the now world-famous Limpopo team, Vakhegula Vakhegula FC.
The competition will feature 13 international teams – including from the USA, Togo, Lesotho, Zambia, Mozambique and France – and seven South African sides from provinces like Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
This event is the brainchild of Vakhegula Vakhegula founder, Beka Ntsanwisi, a philanthropist and former broadcaster popularly known as Mama Beka, who used to work on a home-based care project taking care of sick elderly patients.
The 20 teams will play their matches at the Nkowankowa Stadium, as well as at Burgersdorp Stadium, Lenyenye Stadium and Julesburg Stadium.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS IN THE GRANNIES INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2023:
Group A:
Vakhegula-Vakhegula FC (South Africa)
Muzi United (Malawi)
Motseeo FC (Lesotho)
Glory Gogos FC (South Africa)
Group B:
Mamie Foot Togo (Togo)
Mbombela Gogos (South Africa)
Lexpressas FC (USA)
Corumana Velhos (Mozambique)
Group C:
Footeuse tout age (France)
Consha Magogo Stars (Zimbabwe)
Femme foot Togo (Togo)
Tembisa Gogos (South Africa
Group D:
Femme foot Guinea (Guinea)
Eduardo Mondlane FC (Mozambique)
Breakers (USA)
Dikgoshigadi FC (South Africa)
Group E:
Florima (USA)
Northern Stars FC (South Africa)
Yasa Grannies FC (Zambia)
KZN Gogos (South Africa)
- The 20 teams have been divided into five groups of four and the first day all the team will play in a round-robin format
- Each half will be 20 minutes long, with the entire match lasting 40 minutes
- The top teams in each group, along with the best three runners up, will make up the quarter-finalists
- The semi-finals and finals will be played on the last day (Wednesday, 29 April 2023), followed by the closing ceremony
- The winners will pocket 50-thousand rand (R50,000), with the runners-up taking home 20-thousand rand (R20,000).
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FACT FILE (SOURCE: JEANDUFFY.COM)
The South African Soccer Grannies started playing soccer about 15 years ago. In 2010 when South Africa hosted the World Cup, they were thrust into the international spotlight as a charming human interest story. A Massachusetts team invited them to attend the 2010 Veterans Cup tournament. Miracles fell into place and they made the trip. Teams from California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts played with the Soccer Grannies and were treated to their engaging and spirited song and dance.
The Massachusetts team visited the Soccer Grannies in 2011 and have remained in contact through the years. (In fact, Jean Duffy, one of the Massachusetts soccer players, has written a book about these inspiring women. Publication of “Soccer Grannies” is planned to coincide with the 2023 World Cup. Sign up for Jean’s newsletter at https://jeanduffy.com/)
Community activist Beka Ntsanwisi, who founded the team, now has 84 teams across every province of South Africa — all promoting better health among older women. She has organized this tournament for March 2023.
The South African Soccer Grannies started playing soccer about 15 years ago. In 2010 when South Africa hosted the World Cup, they were thrust into the international spotlight as a charming human interest story. A Massachusetts team invited them to attend the 2010 Veterans Cup tournament. Miracles fell into place and they made the trip. Teams from California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts played with the Soccer Grannies and were treated to their engaging and spirited song and dance.
By Matlhomola Morake
