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Rift Valley football grannies step up preps for global tourney
Mutei FC Grannies during a past even at Mutei Primary School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
What you need to know:
- South Africa’s football grannies started playing football 15 years ago. Their journey gained international recognition when they became a heartwarming human-interest story during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
- That year, they were invited to play in the Veterans Cup in Massachusetts, USA, where they faced teams from California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.
The Kenyan government will fund the country’s female grannies’ football team as they participate in the second edition of the Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT), set to take place from April 2-5 in Limpopo, South Africa.
The team, based in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, consists of players aged between 52 and 75 from Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. They train at Mutei Primary School in the interior of Eldoret.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday during a visit to the team’s training session, Sports PS Peter Tum reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting sports as a pillar of national development. He was accompanied by Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii.
“As the team prepares for their upcoming tournament, the government commits to facilitating their participation, in line with President William Ruto’s agenda, which prioritises sports as a driver of social and economic transformation,” said Tum as he handed over the team’s registration certificate and training equipment, including balls.
Beyond the competition, the grannies' football initiative also promotes healthy living among elderly women in the community.
Sports PS Peter Tum (right) and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bio (second right) donate balls to Mutei Fc Grannies at Mutei Primary School in Uasin Gishu County.
“Mutei Grannies FC’s story is an inspiration to all generations. True champions are measured not by age but by heart. Congratulations, and continue inspiring the next generation—age is just a number,” Tum added.
Governor Bii was equally impressed by the team’s skill and energy on the pitch.
“It was truly inspiring to witness the Mutei FC Grannies in action as they took on their millennial counterparts. The way they played, passing the ball effortlessly to their teammates, was fascinating. I admired their stamina and resilience and have full confidence the team will make history,” said Bii.
The team’s patron, Elizabeth Keitany, expressed gratitude for the support from the Ministry of Sports, including official recognition, equipment, and facilitation for their first-ever international tournament.
“The team started six months ago, and we did not foresee the magnitude of this grannies’ football movement in our communities. We are going to South Africa, and this will be special for the players, many of whom never imagined boarding a plane,” said Keitany.
Mutei FC Grannies during a past even at Mutei Primary School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Kenya’s contingent for the tournament will include 20 players and six officials. Team captain Gertrude Kipyegon, the youngest player at 52, reflected on the journey so far.
“Other grannies underrated our small beginning. They laughed at us, saying we were wasting our time when we started training. But we thank God because now there is light. At first, we didn’t see this as something big, but it’s slowly sinking in that we are heading for greater heights,” she said.
The 2025 edition of GIFT has expanded significantly, attracting 32 teams from eight countries: Kenya, USA, France, Togo, Zambia, Mozambique, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.
The inaugural tournament was held in March 2023 in Nkowankowa, South Africa, hosted by the Vakhegula Vakhegula Football Club and the Beka Ntsanwisi Foundation.
Sixteen teams from France, Mozambique, South Africa, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated, emphasising fitness and healthy aging.
The idea was conceived by Beka Ntsanwisi, a philanthropist and former radio personality known as "Mama Beka," who dedicated her career to home-based care for elderly patients.
South Africa’s football grannies started playing football 15 years ago. Their journey gained international recognition when they became a heartwarming human-interest story during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
That year, they were invited to play in the Veterans Cup in Massachusetts, USA, where they faced teams from California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts.