Soccer Grannies

The inspirational story of an amazing group of soccer-playing South African grannies. In rural South Africa, beloved humanitarian "Mama Beka" defied social convention and started a soccer team for the women in her community. The Soccer Grannies, as they came to be known, won over their families and villages who at first rejected the idea of older women playing soccer, and that single team quickly grew into dozens. Soon, the strength, tenacity, and pure joy of the Soccer Grannies had captured the attention of the world. In Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World, Jean Duffy, a soccer-playing mom herself, recounts how she and her team set to work to bring the Soccer Grannies to the U.S. after hearing their incredible story. Despite many obstacles that stand in their way, the Soccer Grannies finally arrive, and Jean describes the wonderful friendships and cultural exchanges that follow. But Soccer Grannies tells more than just the physical journey of the South African women; it also details the Grannies' personal journeys, sharing poignant insights into the realities of women living in South Africa. Life beyond the pitch has not been easy for the Grannies. They have persevered through apartheid, rampant poverty and unemployment, the loss of children to AIDS, domestic abuse, and more. But with the friendship and support of their fellow Soccer Grannies, these women face life's challenges with dignity, humor, and hope. Their stories show to the world the power of sport and its unique ability to bring people and cultures together.

Jean Duffy is a nonfiction writer who has published with the Boston Globe, the Concord Monitor, the Packingtown Review, the Somerville Journal, the Stamford Advocate, and WBUR Cognoscenti. Jean worked for twenty-six years as an engineer and manager before retiring and can now be found playing soccer and consulting with nonprofits. Follow her online at https://jeanduffy.com.

Contents
Foreword, Rebecca "Beka" Ntsanwsi
Author's Note
Prologue: A People United
Part I The Dream
1 Vakhegula Vakhegula FC
2 Mama, We Can Try This
3 We're Not Bimbos
4 A Little Bit of Good
5 Vusiwana I Vuloyi
Mama Beka: The Mother Teresa of Limpopo
6 The Grannies Are Coming! The Grannies Are Coming!
Part II The Game
7 A More Perfect (Re)union
Granny Rossina: What Happens in the Bush . . .
8 Five Is a Lot
Granny Khune: We Danced like Crazy
9 R-E-S-P-E-C-T
10 Ukuleles and Vuvuzelas
Granny Bull: The Fierce Fighter
11 Rain Falling on Parched Land
Granny Norah: The Hard Way
12 May You Score Many Goals
Part III The Goal
13 Mopane Worms and Sequined Gowns
Granny Omo: Like Two Hands that Wash Each Other
14 Thunder
Granny Gaisa: God Is My Protector
15 You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock
16 The Baobab Tree
Epilogue: Sisters in Soccer
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author