I am grateful for the press and the reading and writing community support of Soccer Grannies!
Radio and TV Interviews
Tiziana Dearing, host of NPR’s WBUR Radio Boston program, covered a story on “So-called ‘Soccer Grannies’ create a sisterhood of sport and community from across an ocean”
Beka announced the 2025 Grannies International Football Tournament and discussed the Soccer Grannies book with SABC TV reporter, Nombuso Mahlangu.
Boston WCVB TV-5 reporter, Naoko Funayama covered the story of the Soccer Grannies and the 2023 Grannies International Football Tournament
I had fun talking with Tod Gross on his NewTV show, On the Sunny Side of the Street about the South African Soccer Grannies. Tod’s program has been airing stories about the positive side of human nature for twenty years.
Beth Meyers, Ipswich Community Access Media Executive Director and Ground Breakers soccer player, recommended “Soccer Grannies” to Paul Valcour, host of CoA Today: Living Smart, Living Well. Kim Brookes joined me to share the story of our South African friends. Beth also interviewed us for the first episode of her new show, As The Earth Turns, that aired a few weeks later.
Book Reviews and Book Lists
Kirkus Reviews describes “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.”
Suzie Housley of Midwest Book Review: “Embark on a journey filled with inspiration, friendship, and the universal language of sports as we celebrate the indomitable spirit of the Soccer Grannies.”
Nina McLaughlin, Boston Globe New England Literary News correspondent, wrote about “the joy and community of soccer in new book by Somerville author.”
The Arts Fuse published a book review by Bill Littlefield: “A marvelous book about an amazing woman.” That would be none other than Mama Beka!
Ian Plenderleith reviewed Soccer Grannies for SoccerAmerica, “The Soccer Grannies of South Africa: ‘Leaving cultural expectations in the dust.'”
Jordan Rich of WBZ Radio’s Book Club shared Soccer Grannies with his audience.
Sports Literature Association published a review by Lisa Timpf: “Soccer Grannies is a non-fiction book that could just as well read as the script of a triumph-against-the-odds movie.”
Jessie Stewart wrote for The Linden Review: “In her new memoir Soccer Grannies, Duffy follows the stories of several South African Black women and their desire to live life through their country’s national pastime: soccer.”
The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books says: “In many instances, a sports team will inspire others and not because of their excellent play, their championships or even the accomplishments of some of the athletes. Sometimes just the fact that the athletes are playing their sport and enjoying themselves is enough to inspire people.”
Electric Lit published “7 Inspiring Books About Women in Sports Who Defied Expectations” by Aime Card, author of Tigerbelles.
My Football Books recommended Soccer Grannies on a list of African football books.
All Sports Books, Soccer Grannies was included in a roundup of highly anticipated 2023 sports books.
Choice Magazine, Soccer Grannies was included in a list of forthcoming 2023 titles in African American Studies, as well as the Choice Magazine list for titles in Women and Gender Studies.
News Reports
Judith Newcomb Stiles, reporter for the Italian press Ytali., wrote the heartfelt article “Never Too Old for Calcio.”
Maddie Browning of the Boston Globe tells how “Three local writers’ group members turn six years of dedication into published memoirs.”
Nick Hope of the Women’s Sports Alliance of the UK shares stories championing women in sports. Read “How South Africa’s ‘Soccer Grannies’ inspired a global movement.”
The Head Foundation of Singapore included an article, “Soccer Grannies: South Africa’s Footballing Pensioners Find a New Lease on Life” in the latest issue of THINK: The Art, Science, and Good News of Ageing
Beverly Stoddart of the IndepthNH.org interviewed Jean and her writing group buddy, Bev Stohl, “Sharing a Wild Publishing Ride.”
Susanne Beck of the Lexington Observer wrote a piece entitled “Soccer Grannies Form a Cross-Continental Bond.”
Susanne Beck, also reporter for Cambridge Day, wrote a piece entitled “South African saint behind the Soccer Grannies inspires many, including new Somerville author.”
Tony Rossi, columnist for SVWA Today, wrote “Soccer grannies inspire the world”
Jeanne Byington, community contributor for Patch, shared under the Local Voices column “Jean Duffy Wins Christopher Award for “Soccer Grannies””
Podcast and Online Interviews
Beka Ntsanwisi and I loved talking with Patty LaBella on the Women’s World Football Show. Her award-winning podcast and internet radio show has been covering women’s soccer all over the world for 10 years.
Danielle Hampson, host of The Authors Show, interviewed me about Soccer Grannies. Check it out!
My soccer buddy, Heather Brogio, and I spoke with the Grandmother Collective, an organization that celebrates the power and capabilities of older women, about our work with Beka Ntsanwisi and the Mama Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation.
Thank you Kate Fagan and Jessica Smetana of Off the Looking Glass for talking with Beka and me. We appreciated sharing in your humor, insight, and joy.
Delighted to talk with Barbara Hanna Grufferman on her podcast, GRUFFtalk about how to age better and how “Soccer is Life!”
Such fun talking fellow socccer author, Sarahlyn Bruck, and Amy and Carrie of The Perks of Being a Booklover Podcast about women’s soccer and friendship!
Interviewed by Tony Rossi of Light One Candle – the blog of the Christophers about how soccer playing grandmothers find hope and healing in sports, God, and each other.
Host Sal Bono hosted me on his podcast, Curva Mundial about finding my love of soccer later in life, bringing the Soccer Grannies to the United States, and writing the book “Soccer Grannies.”
Author Michelle Hoover, aka The 7am Novelist, interviewd with me and my Page Six writing group buddies, Bev Boisseau Stohl and Laura Beretsky about our successful writing grou.
Host Yennifer Pedraza’s podcast, Her Own Words, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women by sharing their inspiring stories and celebrating their pursuits. I read and discussed my essay, first published on Grande Dame Literary, “Embracing the Late Bloomer” about building self-confidence and finding a community of women on the soccer field.
As the Women’s World Cup unfolds, I spoke with Marsha Wietecha of Born to Talk Radio Show about the soccer playing women of Massachusetts and Limpopo.
Women Writers, Women’s Books posted an “Interview with Jean Duffy, author of Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World.”
Authors Answer posted an interview with yours truly.