Age 50+ International Women’s Soccer Tournament, April 2025 (Amateur / Recreational)
A unique opportunity to experience the local flavors and sights of Limpopo province during this friendly tournament hosted by the “Soccer Grannies of South Africa”
Interested teams please email contact: SAtournament2025@gmail.com
Open to women teams over age 50 — all skill levels — and beginners are encouraged to join!
When: Tuesday April 1: Arrive Tzaneen
Wednesday April 2: Opening ceremony and first game
Thursday April 3 and Friday April 4: Games continue
Saturday April 5: Finals and closing ceremony
Sunday April 6: Depart Tzaneen
Where: South Africa Limpopo Province. See map below.
Hosts: The Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation and the Vakhegula Vakhegula Football Club
Teams: We hope to greet teams from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, France, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Mexico, Namibia, Spain, Togo, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Zwaziland and more!
Format: 11v11 with 20- to 30-minute halves
Age Division: One division (50+)
Costs: Airfare to Johannesburg, ground transportation, accommodations, meals (breakfast may be included with hotel stay), tours, pre-trip medical
Passport Requirements: Passport has to be valid for 6 months (October 2025) AND at least 2 blank pages in the passport. No visas needed.
CDC Guidelines: Recommended vaccines and medications for travel to South Africa
Weather: Tzaneen in April is typically high of 80s F / 25 C and low of 60s F / 15 C at night.
Learn about the 2023 Grannies International Tournament!
In March 2023 the Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation and the Vakhegula Vakhegula Football Club hosted the Grannies International Football Tournament in Nkowankowa, South Africa. Sixteen teams from France, Mozambique, South Africa, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated in this first ever tournament celebrating women’s soccer with a focus on fitness and health as we age.
2025 will be bigger and better!
Photos: Kate Duffy, Jean Duffy, Deb Keohan, Ching Lai, Beatrice Tshabalala, Sue Wing
Watch the Reuters “South African Grannies kick stereotypes out of soccer” coverage of the 2023 tournament. Read an essay by Jean Duffy “You’re never too old to play: The ‘Soccer Grannies’ go international” describing her 2023 experience.
Background:
The South African Soccer Grannies started playing soccer about 15 years ago to improve their health. (See them in action in this award-winning documentary, Alive & Kicking: The Soccer Grannies of South Africa.)
In 2010 when South Africa hosted the World Cup, they were thrust into the international spotlight as a charming human interest story.
A Massachusetts team invited them to attend the 2010 Veterans Cup tournament. Miracles fell into place and they made the trip. Teams from California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts played with the Soccer Grannies and were treated to their engaging and spirited song and dance.
The Massachusetts team visited the Soccer Grannies in 2011 and have remained in contact through the years.
Community activist Beka Ntsanwisi, who founded the team, now has inspired 240 Grannies teams across every province of South Africa and in more countries across Africa — all promoting better health among older women.
Jean Duffy, one of the Massachusetts soccer players, has written a book “Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World.” It is humbly recommended to gain a historical and personal perspective of these women! All book proceeds are being donated to the Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation.
Interested teams please email contact: SAtournament2025@gmail.com
*** This information is provided by US fans of the Soccer Grannies. We are in regular communication with the tournament organizers, but the information is subject to change as planning evolves! ***