BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
The inaugural Grannies International Soccer Tournament held in Nkowankowa stadium and Tzaneen Laersklool sports ground in Limpopo Province was a great success.
A total of 400 grannies soccer players over the age of fifty years from Africa, Europe and America participated in this historic women tournament which enjoyed a huge support from all local stake holders including the South African Football Association in Mopani.
The Limpopo provincial government through the Department of Sports Arts and Culture sponsored the only three Limpopo grannies teams in the tournament with accommodation, soccer kits and track suits.
They also sponsored all the teams with catering throughout the tournament, while the local private companies sponsored with bottled water and tents.
The African continent was represented by South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique while the United States of America was represented by Lexpressas FC, Breakers and Florima. Footeuse Tout Age FC from France was the only team representing Europe.
South African representatives were Vakhegula-Vakhegula FC (Mopani), Dikgoshigadi FC (Waterburg), Northern Stars FC (Vhembe), Glory Gogos FC (Hammanskraal), KwaZulu-Natal gogos, Tembisa gogos (Gauteng) and Mbombela Gogos from Mpumalanga.
Mopani district’s favourite team Vhakhegula Vhakhegula who lost their opening game against tournament finalists USA Lexpressars 3-2 did not make it out of the group stage which had the likes of Mbombela Gogos who made it all the way to the semi-finals.
The only game they won was a 6-0 consolation victory against Corumana Velhos from Mozambique who finished bottom in the group.
However, at least four South African sides Northern Stars fc (vhembe), Mpumalanga Gogos, Mbombela Gogos (Mpumalanga) and Tembisa Gogos (Gauteng) made it to the quarterfinal stage all as runners up in their respective groups.
They played against group leaders Lexpressars (USA), Breakers (USA), Footeuse tout age fc (France) and Florima from USA in the quaterfinals. Mpumalanga gogos and Tembisa gogos were walloped 4-0 by Breakers and Northern Stars respectively while France’s only representative Footeuse Tout Age FC was eliminated by Mbombela Gogos 3-0 on penalties after goalless stalemate in fulltime.
USA side Lexpressars cancelled arch rivals Florida 1-0 to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the semifinals USA teams, Breakers and Lexpressars had the better of the only two surviving South African teams beating them 5-4 and 3-0 on penalty kicks respectively to setup an all USA final. Both games had ended goalless. Talented Breakers fc emerged the tournament’s overall winners with a solitary goal by from the boot of Kathy Kelly whose shot at goal best the Lexpressars goalkeeper hands down.
Breakers were crowned champions and received and trophy and golden medals while runners-up Lexpressars received silver medals. Spokesperson of the tournament pioneers Mama Bheka Ntsanwisi foundation Tsolo Bulala thanked all the local stakeholders for making the tournament a great success.
