Soccer Gogos visit the Nelson Mandela Foundation

The gogos looking at some of the gifts that Mr Mandela has received through the years

June 18, 2010 – A festive atmosphere filled the Nelson Mandela Foundation this afternoon as “Gogos for Mandela” visited.

The Vakhegula Vakhegula Football Club, popularly known as Gogos for Mandela, are a group of South African grannies aged between 49 and 84 who have their own football league in the rural province of Limpopo.

Gogos for Mandela was started in 2007 by Beka Ntswanwisi, who saw grandmothers in her community often affected by maladies like high blood pressure and arthritis.

She decided to start a football club to help keep them more active.

“We’re doing this to be like Nelson Mandela and be active because he never stopped being active, even when he was in jail,” Ntwanisi explained.

As their build up to Mandela Day on July 18 and in preparation for their upcoming trip to the United States of America, the team came to Gauteng to collect soccer kits presented to them by Adidas.

“Our aim is to do something Shangaan because we are all Shangaan-speaking and we play soccer knowing that he changed our lives.

If it wasn’t for him, women wouldn’t be playing soccer,” said Ntswanwisi.

Today the grannies started their visit at the Wanderers Club, where Adidas donated a full soccer kit to each of them and gave them an opportunity to train at the Lucas Radebe School of Soccer, which is currently being developed.

At the session, South African professional football player Morgan Gould, who plays for SuperSport United, showed the gogos a few tricks of the game.

Gould said, “I never knew our grandmothers love football so much – even more than some people who call themselves fans!”

Gould said he was happy to be a part of today because he wants to do his part for Nelson Mandela.

Orlando Pirates player Katlego Mashego also visited the gogos and said, “I’m here for a great cause to help pass the small knowledge I have of football to the gogos who play.

“As a soccer player, wherever I’m needed, I always make sure to lend a helping hand.”

At the Foundation, the grannies were welcomed by Resource Development Manager Ruth Rensburg, who took them on a tour of the Foundation offices and the personal archive of Nelson Mandela, which is cared for and availed to the world by the Foundation.

Angelinah Hlophe recalled as she walked in, “My brother was on Robben Island with Madiba.

“He was arrested in 1961 and I was also part of the struggle.

“Being here makes me really emotional.”

The excited gogos got a chance to take pictures, told stories about his life, before being taken to the auditorium where they were shown some of Mr Mandela’s diaries, photographs and gifts that have been donated to him, including the jacket he recently wore when Bafana Bafana came to visit.

Each of the gogos received a copper 46664 bangle and The Authorised Comic Book on the life and times of Madiba.

“We hope you will share it with your children and your grandchildren, so they can know about and learn from his story too,” said Rensburg.

Speaking about her visit to the Foundation, 59-year-old Asnath Shivitii said, “I am so happy to be here; words can’t even express how I feel right now.

“Thank you, Mandela – without you I wouldn’t be where I am today. He is the one who liberated us and I wish him many more years.”

Asked what she loves most about playing for Gogos for Mandela, Shiviti said, “I love soccer because I lose myself in the sport.

“Even though I am a big woman, when I play I feel so light.”

Rensburg said of the grannies, “They are a tangible example of how every day can be a Mandela Day.

The gogos embody the ethos of Mr Mandela and that of the global movement for good: the idea that no matter where you are, how old and who you are, you can make a difference.

“We are pleased to have them here today and we would like to thank them for visiting us,” she added.