Soccer is perhaps the most popular international sport but we usually think of the young and fit. However, in South Africa there is a league of Grannies who gather several times weekly to practice, sing, dance, and support each other. Jean Duffy plays on an adult league in Massachusetts and saw a video of these grannies playing soccer. She and her teammates immediately wanted to invite them to their Veteran Cup Tournament. It was the start of what is now a decade-long friendship.

I'm not one of the millions of soccer fans. That isn't what drew me to the book. Partly it was the fact the book was about South Africa. I don't know much about South Africa so I was interested in learning about the country. But the biggest draw was to learn about these women who range in age from mid-sixties to their eighties.

I know that a lot of Africa live in extreme poverty, but I didn't realize how much the socio-political history of South Africa was responsible for the extreme poverty that black Southern Africans live in. I heard of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela in school, but I don't think I was really aware of what was happening. It ended in the mid-1990s when I was in high school. I find it interesting that I remember the fall of the Berlin Wall which occurred in 1989 (it was televised) but not the end of Apartheid. Was it not covered in the same way?

Duffy does provide information on some of the atrocities and inequalities that occurred and/or arose from this regime. In my head, I thought it was akin to the segregated United States - "separate but equal". But to compare it to U.S. history, from Duffy's information it was more like a combination our policies of removing Native Americans from their lands and Jim Crowe laws.

The stories of these women and what they face is moving. I was particularly touched by how much their faith in God played in their lives. It sounds like they pray much more than the average American Christian. But I guess when you don't know how you're going to feed your children and are watching her children die of diseases, pray and faith are all you have to rely upon. It was definitely eye-opening and humbling.

While soccer is what brought these women together, the book is about so much more. And it is worth the read - even if you don't like soccer.

My review will be published on Monday at Girl Who Reads - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/05/soccer-grannies-by-jean-duffy-revuew.html

I wrote this book because Beka Ntsanwisi taught me a powerful lesson about following your heart and believing in your dreams. The Soccer Grannies set a fabulous example for us all about living life with joy. I am proud to have been entrusted to tell the story of these resilient women.

I dedicate 5-stars to Beka without whom there would be no story.

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 and this book by Jean Duffy tells of a group of women in South Africa who do just that.
Started by Rebecca (“Beka”) Ntsanwisi to get women to exercise more after the own diagnosis of colon cancer, the group of ladies aged 40 to 80+ went from an exercise group to soccer players who enjoyed the friendship, camaraderie and exercise that improved both their physical and mental health.
The author, who is a soccer player herself, found out about the Soccer Grannies through a video that a teammate shared and from there, she was determined to get them to the United States to play in a tournament. The obstacles faced were daunting and numerous – financially, politically, and culturally. The spirt of both the author and Beka never let those problems stop them, however. It is hard to determine what was more inspiring – the ladies who didn’t bother following patriarchal and discriminatory social norms to play soccer or the sheer joy when everything came together and the Soccer Grannies made it to Massachusetts to play in the tournament.
Duffy worked tirelessly not only to get them to the United States but also to learn more about the ladies and wrote terrific stories about many of them. In the risk of overusing this word, it didn’t matter whose story was told, they were an inspiration to anyone who reads the book. It should also be noted that Duffy and a few teammates made a journey to South Africa to visit the Grannies in their native land as well and while it didn’t evoke the same awe as the Grannies’ play (and celebrations) in the United States, it was clear that the women on both continents cherished their friendships and their time together.
Whether one is a soccer fan or not, this book is one that any reader will enjoy and will also learn about some of the culture of South Africa, both the good and the bad. The story of Beka and the rest of the Soccer Grannies is one that every person, athlete or not, should enjoy.
I wish to thank Rowman and Littlefield for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

At a time when the country and world are sorely in need of feel-good stories, here is one that will warm your heart. You will wonder if it is really true (it is) and then want to spread the word about the way a team sport can forge a path halfway around the world creating bonds that will last forever. No differences in culture, religion, ideology or skin color ever stood in the way for Jean Duffy, my friend, teammate and colleague, when she and a few other players took it upon themselves to bring a team of elderly South African women (all over 40 and some in their 80s) to join a soccer tournament in America. This trip created a sister team in Lexington, Massachusetts and led to an awareness of these indomitable women who had been playing soccer daily to strengthen their hearts, bodies, and spirit.

From a small village in Limpopo, the Soccer Grannies defied a patriarchical culture, poverty, restrictive traditions and a history of apartheid to put their lives in their own hands. Their teams keep growing, now numbering in the dozens as their love of the game, friendships, and life itself expresses their spirit.

Soccer Grannnies delves into their personal stories as well – the one thing fighting the tears of compassion and empathy is the sheer joy of the play itself, connecting women in a network across the globe. Follow the arc of this story and extend it yourself, whether it is through soccer, another team sport or through similar acts of love.

Andrea Celenza, Author: Transference, Love, Being: Essential Essays from the Field

North American sports fans have little problem finding a place to get their fix. Professional, university, and Olympic sports are accorded plenty of ink and air time. There are even movies about teams that defied the odds to come back from tragedy, or win championships, or—the list goes on.

Enter Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World, by Jean Duffy. Soccer Grannies is a non-fiction book that could just as well read as the script of a triumph-against-the-odds movie. Soccer Grannies quietly reminds us about what, at the root of it, is important and valuable about sport. The camaraderie. The invitation to enhanced fitness. Sport’s uncanny ability to connect people across ethnic divides, across socio-economic classes, across cultural differences, and across continents.

The Soccer Grannies, as Jean Duffy first came to know them, were a team composed, quite literally, of South African grandmothers—women in their 40’s to their 80’s. But as is true of many of the best things in life, these soccer-loving grandmothers came by their love of the sport in a roundabout fashion.

The Soccer Grannies started off as a group of women trying to improve their fitness. The club’s founder, Rebecca (better known as ‘Beka’) Ntsanwisi, was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2003. After undergoing chemotherapy, she was advised by the doctor to exercise in order to regain her strength. Having noticed many older women at the clinic suffering from a variety of maladies, Beka rightly assumed that others, too, could use some intervention to help them overcome illnesses that were “robbing South Africa’s women of their twilight years.”

Beka started “an exercise program for ladies who were out of shape and wanted to do something about it.” One day, when the group was exercising in a field, a group of boys accidentally kicked a soccer ball in their direction. When a member of the exercise group kicked it back, Beka suggested, half-jokingly, that they try soccer.

The idea was greeted with enthusiasm by the other women. Beka hired a coach to teach them how to play, and the women found that their mobility and strength improved. More than that, “they were also enjoying laughter and friendship—which in turn improved their mental health.”

The Soccer Grannies looked forward to the time spent on the soccer field. That didn’t mean it was easy. They had to overcome cultural obstacles. Some critics argued they should be at home looking after their grandchildren. Others criticized their choice of attire. But the Grannies were steadfast in their determination. The health and social benefits of their time spent on the soccer pitch outweighed social pressure.

The book’s author, Jean Duffy, was first exposed to the Grannies through a video forwarded to her by a soccer teammate. Jean herself was 51 years old at the time, “only recently switched from soccer momming on the sidelines to chasing the ball.” Despite the 7,875 miles between her home in Lexington, Massachusetts and the Grannies’ home in Nkowankowa, Limpopo, Jean felt a connection. Jean, along with other key figures from her own team and others in the league, began a campaign to bring the Soccer Grannies to play in the annual Veterans Cup, which in 2010 was scheduled to be held in Massachusetts.

The book describes the ups and downs of the fundraising campaign to enable the Grannies make the trip, the experience of hosting the South African team in the United States, and a subsequent visit to South Africa by Duffy and others.

In addition to the description of events, Duffy provides historical context for the Grannies’ endeavours, outlining some of the social and political challenges in South Africa. As well, brief biographies of several of the Grannies are included. These profiles provide depth to the book, illustrating the difficulties—poverty, abuse, discrimination, and the like—that these women have endured, and triumphed over, in the course of their lives.

Duffy’s style is eminently readable, and she arranges the story in a logical, easy-to-follow fashion. In the Author’s Note, she notes that Soccer Grannies is the product of seven years spent poring over email correspondence, photographs, formal interviews, newspaper articles, and other sources. Duffy includes an extensive bibliography at the end of the book.

As I write this review, we are well into the phenomenon known as March Madness, when US college basketball teams vie for the national championship title. The event is widely televised. A number of the players showcased will go on to have professional careers.

Meanwhile, across South Africa and in pockets elsewhere around the world—for the Soccer Grannies was too good an idea to remain in one place—teams of soccer-playing grandmothers are booting the ball around and sharing laughter, gaining physical and mental health benefits in the process. Duffy’s book brings the original Soccer Grannies team into the limelight, weaving together a compelling story that tells us something about the power of sport to engender well-being, and to build bridges between people from different cultures through a shared love of the game.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Rowman & Littlefield for providing a copy of Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World for review consideration. All opinions stated above are my own.

Soccer Grannies was a delight to read from start to finish. Jean Duffy captured the spirit of these amazing South African women beautifully. This is a story about soccer, women, overcoming obstacles, and love of life. The inspiring woman behind the Soccer Grannies rise, Mama Beka, was portrayed beautifully and her passion brought to life in each page of this book. Beka was determined to bring opportunities for older women in Limpopo Province to take better care of themselves, in a community where women are treated as second-class citizens to this day. What started as a small group of women kicking a ball around quickly spread to over 80 women’s soccer teams! Although the book includes the story of Mama Beka and her personal journey as a cancer survivor and leader in her community, there are small biographies of some of the individual Soccer Grannies woven throughout the book, and their heartwarming but sometimes tragic personal stories. Puts life into perspective for sure. Jean also weaves enough South Africa history on apartheid as a reminder of what this community has had to overcome.

As a member of the Lexpressas soccer team in Massachusetts and a participant in the upcoming International Grannies Soccer Tournament in Limpopo (March, 2023), Jean’s book was truly an inspiring read ahead of this trip. Despite the hardships the Grannies face, their outlook on life and determination to get through difficult times is awe-inspiring. Though our team in the U.S. shares little in common with these women and their everyday struggles (some were deprived of a formal education, some forced into arranged marriages, and some even accused of witchcraft!), what we do share is our love for the game of soccer. Soccer is what brought our teams together back in 2010, and is what is bringing us all together again in 2023. As Jean portrayed gracefully and with humor in the book, soccer is what gave these women an empowerment to take better care of themselves, and most importantly- laugh, dance and enjoy life despite difficult circumstances. I felt a profound sense of connection to these women after finishing the book. A connection I will be fortunate to realize in person when our team travels there soon to share their laughter, dance, and love for the great game of soccer. Jean shows us beautifully how the Grannies have broken barriers for women, in particular those of us in the prime of our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for the advance review copy of Soccer Grannies. It has been a privilege reading this wonderful book, and I recommend it to any soccer lover for true inspiration.

What a powerful and incredibly moving story this was! I was approached by the author and immediately drawn to her passion and engagement. I have a 9 year old soccer fanatic in my own house, and the love of the game - and of the ability of sport to bring people together - is something that resonates strongly with me as a result. I was not familiar with the Soccer Grannies before Duffy reached out, but once I learned about their commitment I was immediately drawn to hunt them down online. If you haven't seen the videos, you really must look them up - it is so wonderful to see these women and hear their stories, and their moves on the field are quite impressive as well! This is a lovingly written homage to the power of people to come together - and overcome together - and a fabulous book for readers young and old.

Soccer Grannies, written by first-time author Jean Duffy, is a compelling read about the power of sport to heal, energize, unite—and in this case, bring joy to women across the lines of race, class and culture). Duffy tells the story of Vakhegula Vakhegula (translated Grannies Grannies), a group of older women from the province of Limpopo, South Africa, who broke through social, physical and economic barriers to come together to play soccer (ages range from 40s to mid-80s!). In 2003 activist Rebecca Ntsanwisi, a colon cancer survivor, brought together women suffering from physical maladies born of poverty and encouraged them to kick the ball. Duffy expertly weaves their heartbreaking personal stories into a tale of triumph. She gives voice to women whose voices are rarely heard as we learn how they broke the taboo against women playing sports and felt the freedom of using their bodies and the joy of playing "the beautiful game." Even more inspiringly, they experienced the camaraderie of the communities that they formed. Duffy relates how in 2010, she and her teammates, who also came to soccer as adult women, were inspired by the Soccer Grannies and invited them to play in a tournament in Massachusetts. Much of the book recaptures the difficulties that both groups overcame—financial, bureaucratic, and logistical—to make the trip happen. It combines memoir, reportage, and interviews with the Soccer Grannies interlaced with passages on the social and political history of apartheid and the aftermath to portray their remarkable journey. Jean Duffy has written a powerful story that goes beyond soccer to tell real stories of human triumph.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Rowman and Littlefield for providing the review copy of Soccer Grannies.