TZANEEN, South Africa, March 28 (Reuters) – Carrying blue tracksuits and waving their nationwide flag, South Africa’s Vakhegula Vakhegula soccer crew jogged into the stadium to cheers forward of their first match in opposition to crew USA.
It was the primary day of the Grannies Worldwide Soccer Event in Limpopo province, and this crew – just like the others – was made up of ladies aged 55 and up. Vakhegula means “grandmothers” within the Tsonga language spoken in South Africa.
“At my age, I believe if I used to be not on this sport I ought to have been confined to a wheelchair,” mentioned 66-year-old striker Flora Baloi, who began taking part in in 2017 after affected by extreme arthritis.
Now she mentioned she now not wants treatment, because the train retains her bodily and mentally match. When not working towards with the crew she likes watching soccer on TV along with her husband, and spending time along with her 5 grandsons.
[1/3] Participant compete through the Grannies Worldwide Soccer Event (GIFT) 2023 on the Nkowankowa Stadium in Tzaneen, South Africa March 26, 2023.REUTERS/Alet Pretorius
The match, nicknamed the Grannies Soccer World Cup, is the primary of its form hosted by Vakhegula Vakhegula. The crew was fashioned in 2007 to enhance the well being of native girls, and it led to the creation of different granny groups throughout the nation.
The four-day match will see at the least 15 groups compete, from South Africa and different nations together with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Groups have come from as distant as France and america.
“We find it irresistible. It means a lot to us. It is a group, it makes us wholesome,” mentioned U.S. participant, 64-year-old Mo Kelly.
Reporting by Siyabonga Sishi; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Enhancing by Christina Fincher
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