S.Africa's grannies kick out stereotypes on the soccer field


Spectators watch the Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT) 2023, at Nkowankowa Stadium, Tzaneen, South Africa March 26, 2023. REUTERS/Alet Pretorius

TZANEEN, South Africa (Reuters) - Wearing blue tracksuits and waving their national flag, South Africa's Vakhegula Vakhegula soccer team jogged into the stadium to cheers ahead of their first match against team USA.

It was the first day of the Grannies International Football Tournament in Limpopo province, and this team - like the others - was made up of women aged 55 and up. Vakhegula means "grandmothers" in the Tsonga language spoken in South Africa.

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