Golden Oldies secure sponsorship deal from Betway SA
Firm ploughs back to Soweto
Playing football is gradually becoming a huge attraction for grannies and one of Zolabased, Soweto, football clubs for aged women Golden Oldies, this week sealed a sponsorship agreement with gambling firm Betway SA.
They will represent Gauteng at the Durban Elderly Tournament in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday. At their send-off function in Zola on Tuesday, Betway SA donated a R30 000 cheque, a soccer kit and soccer balls.
Oldies captain Thobekile Mazibuko, 59, was optimistic the Soweto grannies will come back with the trophy.
“We are going to win this trophy. We want to make Soweto and Gauteng as a whole proud,” a sturdy Mazibuko said.
“We have prepared well by playing some friendlies with other clubs in Zola.
“I urge other gogos to [start playing football]; it’s the best thing you can do to stay healthy and fit. Many old people are lazy and have a negative attitude towards playing sports, we encourage that mentality to stop.”
Her passion for the sport dates back to 2014 when she was diagnosed with asthma, which motivated her to start exercising and playing football. She describes herself as as a striker with an eye for goal, validating her goal-scoring instincts by scoring in their 1-1 friendly draw against Zola Community FC on Tuesday.
Betway SA head of marketing Mark Rowles said they decided to lend a hand to Oldies because they wanted to plough back to community.