Merriam Mushwana (65) from Nkowankowa Township outside Tzaneen was one of the fortunate gogos who travelled to Russia to be part of the Grannies Summer Football Championships recently.

Mushwana belongs to the popular Vakhegula Vakhegula Team, an elderly womens soccer team which has been in existence since 2007.

The Vakhegula Vakhegula brand comprises of two teams from Nkowankowa and Seshego in the Polokwane area.

Also read: Soccer grannies continue to flourish

She describes her Russia trip as ‘a once in a lifetime experience’.

“I’m not scared of heights, I enjoyed flying and especially after our flight was upgraded from economy to business class.

“We were treated like royalty, the food was amazing, we could eat and drink as we pleased and we rubbed shoulders with the elite.”

When they arrived in the country they stayed in Moscow at the home of one of their Russian soccer associates and she says they received a warm welcome.

They also got a chance to explore the capital city where they did their shopping.

After their shopping trip, they played a few games with local grannies there and Mushwana won a trophy for being the best player in one of the games.

They also got the chance to watch Russia playing on the local big screens there.

“I was surprised that the Russians don’t smile or laugh or even greet a person on the streets unless they know you, I was told that it is just how they are.

“Many of their shops are selling alcohol, watches, Russian dolls (Matryoshka doll) and sweets, we walked a long distance before we could see store selling something different.

“Their eight o’clock in the evening it is like our five o’clock in the afternoon, it is not dark like here where babies are already fast asleep,” Mushwana told MOPANI HERALD when asked what surprised her the most about Russia.

She says out of everything she was mostly taken aback by subway trains and underground shops and resturants.

Mushwana says that she began playing soccer from a young age, when other girls were busy playing with dolls, she was playing soccer with the boys in the streets.

Mushwana is not only a soccer star, but she is recording gospel artist and has four albums to her name.

Her last two albums are, Ndzi Tlakuse (Raise me up) and Carry me through.

She currently stays with her two kids, younger brother and her grandchildren.

She is known to her fans as ‘Katsande’ after Kaizer Chiefs player Willard Katsande, her whole family are Amakhosi supporters as well.

The soccer star also is also flourishing in the kitchen, she says she enjoy baking for her family when she has spare time.Mushwana says her wish is to play soccer until she reach the age of 80, like other grannies in her team who are inspiring her dream more.