Media Reactions and Reviews

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.

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.”

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.

Le Monde reporter Romain Chanson wrote the piece “In South Africa, “Granny Football” Changes the Way We Look at Old Age.” Here’s an English version.

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.”

Jeanne Byington, for Patch, shared under the Local Voices column “Jean Duffy Wins Christopher Award for “Soccer Grannies””

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.

InDepthNH and NH Writers’ Project co-hosted a panel event with four authors called “Storytelling and Publishing: Capturing the Human Experience.” View the recording.

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!”

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 fwriting the book “Soccer Grannies.”

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.