Soccer grannies to bring the world to Nkowankowa

LIMPOPO – The first-ever Grannies International Football Tournament will be hosted at the Nkowankowa Stadium from March 26-29 .

Twelve grannies from the Vhembe district were picked to represent the Vakhegula-Vakhegula (Grannies) Football Club squad.

The tournament will comprise of more than 32 international teams, including teams from France, the USA and nine South African teams, one from each province.

The international tournament is for females older than 50 years and is organised by the Beka Foundation, the founders of the Vakhegula-Vakhegula (Grannies) Football Club.

Beka Ntsanwisi said this is the first-ever Granny’s International Football Tournament in the world.

“We are ready. We have been playing since 2007 and have been to America, Brazil, Russia and France. We are confident in our abillity to win against them. I still have plans to make sure that we have the World Cup. I am also proud to announce that the Zambian Minister of Sport is coming to Nkowankowa to watch grannies play soccer.

“We have countries such as France, Denmark, America, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi coming to participate and I am confident that the cup will stay in Nkowankowa. We have players from Polokwane, Sekhukhune and the Vhembe district,” said Ntsanwisi.

“The grannies have practiced hard and we chose the best players. It has given them an opportunity to excercise and improve their health as their blood pressure and sugar levels are manageable since they started playing soccer.

We have three teams from Limpopo because we have many teams under the Mama Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation.”

Mamaila Rhonaldo Modjadji (80) said when they started playing soccer people would laugh at them.

“We thank Mama Beka Ntsanwisi who made the effort and took us from our homes to play soccer. Today, we are recognised world wide as Vakhegula-Vakhegula because of her.

“I am confident that the cup will remain in Limpopo because we are ready to beat all participating countries. We went to America and brought a cup to Nkowankowa,” said Modjadji.

She proud of herself that no one can take the ball from her feet.

“I am a dribbling wizard and goal scorer. Any ball that I grab, I make sure it is a goal,” she said.

Gavaza Dinah Mawila (65) who is a team doctor said he started as a player until she decided to help the team with medical issues.

“I was a professional nurse and decided to screen the grannies before every practise session or match. If their blood pressure is high we must make sure that they don’t participate until it is stable,” said Mawila.

Meriam Jomela Moshwani (70) is excited about the tournament.

“We are excited to be part of this historic tournament. We started playing sixteen years ago. No matter what, we are sure that Limpopo will take this cup as we have prepared and we are ready to play with other countries,” said Moshwani.