The Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT) has finally begun with a bang at the Nkowankowa Stadium outside Tzaneen in Limpopo. The highly anticipated tournament will feature 20 granny football teams from seven different countries, which will be competing over the course of three days.

The event started with a vibrant parade through the streets of Nkowankowa Township, followed by an opening ceremony at the local stadium. The opening game of the tournament was played between the South African team, affectionately known as “Vakhegula Vakhegula” and their US counterparts. The US team won the game 4-2.

Approximately 400 participants from France, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Guinea have descended on Tzaneen to take part in the tournament. The games will be held at two different venues, namely the Nkowankowa Stadium and Tzaneen Primary School. The tournament will take place between March 26 and 29th.

The mastermind behind this philanthropic event is Beka Ntsanwisi from the Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation. Ntsanwisi is a well-known media personality and philanthropist from Nkowankowa Township, who has been praised for her charitable work throughout the province.

Some of her notable projects include building houses for the poor and funding the education of underprivileged children.

Overall, the Grannies International Football Tournament promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the talents of these remarkable elderly women who refuse to be sidelined due to their age.