Boston-area Women Competed in South African Soccer Tournament

Three teams of women in their 50s, 60s, and 70s traveled to South Africa for a four-day tournament at the end of March. Sixteen teams from across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. competed in this first-ever Grannies International Football Tournament in the Limpopo province. The Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation and the Vakhegula Vakhegula Football Club, affectionately known as the Soccer Grannies, hosted this inaugural celebration of older women from around the world who love the beautiful game.

The festivities commenced with a parade of drum majorettes, a marching band, and teams in their traditional attire carrying the flags of their country. The townsfolk of Nkowankowa lined the streets cheering, slapping high-fives, and posing for photos with the players. Upon entering the stadium, we passed by tents of dignitaries and squads of dancers awaiting their turn to perform at the opening ceremony.

The three Boston teams, sports ambassadors for a few days, were members of the Breakers, the Ground Breakers, and the Lexpressas teams. Many of the Massachusetts women regularly compete in the USASA Soccer Fest tournament, the Eastern Mass Women’s Soccer League (EMWSL), and the Teamworks over-50 league. They can also be spotted at various all-women and co-ed scrimmages across the greater Boston area.

These women have been grateful for their connections to local soccer organizations as players, mothers of players, coaches, refs, and volunteers. Some of the women—youngsters in their 50s—benefited from participating in the MA Youth Soccer leagues as girls. Mary Alice Vallarino of Arlington, MA started playing in kindergarten, was involved in the MA Youth Soccer program, and now enjoys EMWSL. Kim Brookes of Malden coaches for Malden Youth Soccer, attended their courses, and often refers to their online resources. However, many of us older women started playing as adults; there were no girls soccer teams at our high schools or colleges in those pre-Title IX days. No matter how long we have been playing as individuals, we will keep chasing that ball as long as we can.

The South African Soccer Grannies also found their way to the pitch as adults. At first, they encountered ridicule from townsfolk who said they should be at home watching their grandchildren. They were told it was undignified to be wearing shorts. As we fellow soccer players can attest, the Soccer Grannies were having way too much fun with their new passion to be dissuaded. The camaraderie of their teammates helps these strong and resilient women triumph over life’s challenges.

The U.S. connection with the Soccer Grannies dates to 2010. South Africa was hosting the World Cup and the international spotlight focused on these grandmothers as an endearing human interest story. Our players in Massachusetts saw one of those news clips and were inspired by these women—even older than us—enjoying the game we loved. We invited the team to visit the U.S. to participate in the 2010 USASA Veterans Cup tournament. A sequence of last-minute miracles brought nineteen South Africans streaming through Logan Airport. The women captured our hearts with their zest for life and their singing and dancing on the sidelines of the soccer field. A contingent of players visited South Africa in 2011 and our relationship as sister soccer teams has thrived ever since.

You can imagine the thrill when the first game of this 2023 Grannies International Football Tournament was slated as the host South Africa Vakhegula Vakhegula team versus the U.S. Lexpressas—a magical reunion. Our teams lined up in the tunnel as if it were the FIFA World Cup. Once on the field, we put our hands on our hearts as the national anthems of the U.S. and then South Africa blared through the speakers. We assumed our positions on the field. The ref blew the whistle and the game started. Sunny temps in the mid 80s felt hot for us from the northern hemisphere, but we were glad to be running again after those long travel days. The U.S. scored two quick goals. The roar of the crowd was so loud that it was impossible to hear subs calling our names. The final score was a 3-1 win for the U.S. We thanked the Soccer Grannies for the fun game with hugs.

Three days of tournament games ensued. The atmosphere in the stands was jubilant with fans leaping to their feet to dance at every goal. Rita Wilkas, the oldest U.S. player at 79, scored on a penalty kick and again in her next game when she was perfectly positioned in the box. The crowd chanted, “Ri-ta! Ri-ta!” The semifinals found two South African teams competing with two U.S. teams. Several of the games ending with penalty shootouts. At the conclusion, the U.S. Breakers hoisted the three-foot tall trophy at the closing ceremonies in a shower of champagne. The Breakers’ goalie presented the trophy to the host Vakhegula Vakhegula team—without whom this memorable tournament would never have occurred.

The U.S. players will never forget how South Africa welcomed us with open arms. Literally. Countless embraces with team members and fans, the joyful music and singing, the TV interviews, and playing in front of a packed stadium are memories we will treasure. It was an honor to be part of this history-making tournament. We will long remember this opportunity to celebrate, empower, and honor older women, to focus on improved health, and to share the camaraderie across race and culture through sport.

Interested to learn more about the lives of these soccer-playing grandmothers from Limpopo? One of the Massachusetts players, Jean Duffy, has written a book, Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World, to be published on 10 May 2023. All book proceeds are being donated to the Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation. Please check out JeanDuffy.com for more details.

If you are a Boston-area mother or grandmother not yet playing soccer, come join us! Email SoccerGrannies@gmail.com and we will gladly provide information about the options for joining the Breakers and the Lexpressas on the field for fun and fitness.