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Mama Beka is the Best Volunteer of the Year

Beka Ntsanwisi, founder of the worldrenowned soccer grannies’ team, Vakhegula Vakhegula FC, was named the Volunteer of the Year at the South African Sports Awards on Sunday evening.

The event at the Sun City Superbowl was broadcast live on television. She was honoured for her work with the soccer grannies. The team was established by Ntsanwisi 17 years ago when she followed a home-based care programme looking after the elderly. She would take the aged for exercises at the stadium in Nkowankowa.

A group of children playing soccer invited them to join them and the team started from there. She noticed that the soccer kept them entertained and most of the gogos’ health improved. From there the team’s following increased culminating in the Grannies’ Soccer World Cup hosted last year at the Nkowankowa Stadium.

Mama Beka in Mauaritius.

Also read: Soccer grannies keep on moving

Last month Ntsanwisi and her team visited Mauritius where they launched a grannies soccer team. In the next few weeks, she will leave for Spain to attend a summit as one of 12 women from across the globe selected to attend the event. “I will be spending a month there sharing our work. “The team will join me in Madrid later to take part in a local tournament.

Mama Beka at Nkowankowa Stadium. Photo Facebook

Ntsanwisi is known for her kindness and has built houses for countless families all over Limpopo. She has also paid the school fees for many learners in need. “I love jumping in and filling a gap when I see one. I will die happy because I believe I have managed to accomplish what God has asked me to do on earth,” she said.

“I dedicate this award to my dad, Reni Ntsanwisi, who encouraged me to follow my purpose. I also would like to thank the mayors of Greater Tzaneen and Mopani District, Gerson Molapisane and Pule S

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Emelda Tintswalo Shipalana

Tintswalo Shipalana, a journalist for the Letaba Herald, has been in the media industry for over a decade. She started her journey in radio, but ended up in print which is her first love. She joined the Herald newspaper as a cadet in 2016, where she graduated with a journalism qualification from the Caxton Training Academy. She also has a qualification in Feature Writing from the University of Cape Town and a Media Management qualification from Wits University. She is completing her BA Communication Science degree with UNISA. She sleeps well at night knowing she is a voice to the voiceless and her work contributes to promoting local talent, businesses and service delivery. Her love for her community keeps her working hard every day.

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