A 58-year-old overcame stroke through soccer. A 72-year-old scored in the opening game. The oldest player is 87.
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Beka Ntsanwisi, a philanthropist from South Africa, began organizing soccer for women over 50 back in 2007. Her goal was to help the women in her town improve their health.
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Her efforts grew and by 2023, her dream came true with the launch of the Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT) in her hometown of Tzaneen.
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The 2025 edition of GIFT brought together teams from seven countries including the U.S., France, Togo, Kenya, and Mozambique.
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The American team, New England Breakers, won the championship in a penalty shootout against France’s Les Zamies. But Team Zambia may have shown the most determination. After their bus broke down, they hitchhiked 200 miles to the tournament, arriving late but still competing with pride.
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“We play, we move, we travel. It’s going to take us a long time to get old,” Fikile Sithole, a player, commented.
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h/t: NPR
Photos: Beka Ntsan’wisi / Facebook
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