Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World tells the story of a team of 40 to 80-year-old women in rural South Africa who defy social convention to play soccer for the companionship and the health benefits it provides. Their strength and resiliency help them face life’s challenges with dignity, humor, and hope. They teach the rest of us that age, gender, and expectations cannot define an athlete.
Winner of 2023 Christopher Award, 2024 silver Nautilus Award, and the 2024 gold Independent Publisher (IPPY) Award!
Rowman & Littlefield – Rowman & Littlefield International – Books-A-Million – Bookshop.org – IndieBound – Amazon – Barnes & Noble
All book proceeds will go to help keep elderly women safe in South Africa.
Konnichiwa! Soccer Grannies is now available in Japanese! 
“This is the book we all need. Learn the stories of a group of women who defy boundaries and limitations. You cannot help but soak in their love and courage.”
— Julie Foudy, former captain, U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 2x World Cup Champion
“A heartfelt, inspiring story of the world’s most unconventional soccer team. One woman’s story of getting to know a legendary South African women’s soccer team.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“Inspiring and empowering, these soccer grannies show us why and how soccer is the beautiful game on so many levels. It is pitch perfect, all puns intended.”
— Amy B. Bass, author of One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together
“Embark on a journey filled with inspiration, friendship, and the universal language of sports as we celebrate the indomitable spirit of the Soccer Grannies.”
— Midwest Book Review
“Soccer Grannies is an inspirational initiative, beautifully reminding us that the game of billions, as football is christened, belongs to all the peoples of the world.”
— Mohlomi Kekeletso Maubane, independent football researcher and historian
“A heartwarming story of struggle, joy, and triumph centering on unlikely soccer players—grandmothers of South Africa. We learn not only about how these women overcome obstacles they face within the sport, but also how they negotiate historical and contemporary legacies of apartheid and colonialism. Jean Duffy skillfully writes about the spirit, faith, and spunk of these older athletes and inspires the reader to dream of endless possibilities built through friendships, reciprocity, and communities of care.”
— Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak, professor of sociology, New Mexico State University
“A moving account of the power of sport and women’s friendship, Soccer Grannies shows how a team of senior South African women does much more than score goals: they build community, at home and across the world. This story of international journeys and joyous matches is enriched by its intimate portraits of the lives of these women athletes and community leaders.”
— Meghan Healy-Clancy, professor of history, Bridgewater State University
Help us support Mama Beka’s initiatives and the many deserving granny athletes she serves. Proceeds from this effort directly benefit the older women Beka works for, providing improved fitness, nutrition and health education, physical and mental health support, and personal hygiene and self-care.
Thank you! Thank you!