Filed under: African Sports Wire, Feature, Game Time, Sports

Grannies plan to play in soccer championship

Written by Shirlene Alusa-Brown | Posted Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | 0 Comments

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It isn’t everyday that you get to see granny play soccer, but the opportunity will be afforded to many on July 13 – 18, 2010 during the Veteran’s Cup championships in the Massachusetts. The South African team, the Soccer Grannies, has been invited to play in the Veterans Cup and are working fervently to raise the money that they need in order to get to the games.

Soccer grannies (photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Founded in 2005 by Beka Ntsanwisi, it was intended to help keep the older women in shape. The results have been tangible for some of the players who say that they feel better and fitter since they started playing.

Onica Ndzovela, 77, suffered back pain and sore knees before joining the team three years ago.

“I am fresh, I don’t feel any pain in my body, I can run. At home I do all the housework by myself. I paint the walls and fit tiles,” said defender Ndzovela.

The team has raised 130,000 Rand so far but will need a total of 500,000 Rand in order to fly to the United States for the competition.