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It was the first day of the Grannies
International Football Tournament in Limpopo province, and this
team - like the others - was made up of women aged 55 and up.
Vakhegula means "grandmothers" in the Tsonga language spoken in
South Africa.
"At my age, I think if I was not in this sport I should have
been confined to a wheelchair," said 66-year-old striker Flora
Baloi, who started playing in 2017 after suffering from severe
arthritis.
Now she said she no longer needs medication, as the exercise
keeps her physically and mentally fit. When not practicing with
the team she likes watching soccer on TV with her husband, and
spending time with her five grandsons.
The tournament, nicknamed the Grannies Soccer World Cup, is the
first of its kind hosted by Vakhegula Vakhegula. The team was
formed in 2007 to improve the health of local women, and it led
to the creation of other granny teams across the country.
The four-day tournament will see at least 15 teams compete, from
South Africa and other countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe and
Mozambique.
Teams have come from as far away as France and the United
States.
"We love it. It means so much to us. It's a community, it makes
us healthy," said U.S. player, 64-year-old Mo Kelly.
(Reporting by Siyabonga Sishi; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing
by Christina Fincher)
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