Gogos’ soccer team aim for national games
“We are working hard towards competing nationally, and eventually move across the border,” he says.
KwaThema – Amagriza FC is ready to face their opponents during the Regional Golden Games in Germiston on July 26.
The team of 11 gogos from KwaThema Old Age Home decided to start their own soccer team and in their first match they won 3-1 against a team from Daveyton.
Team captain gogo Eliza Maimela (76) says they decided to form a soccer team early this year after identifying a need in the area.
“We identified that in the old age home we have most sporting codes except for soccer, unlike with the other elderly groups across the metro.
“We decided to invite local soccer coaches to help us improve our skills on the pitch because the only knowledge of soccer we have is through watching it on the small screen.
“We’ve only had a few months of training, but we are seeing a lot of improvement and believe we will go as far as participating in the national games,” she says.
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Eliza says they are inviting other elders from the community who are interested in participating to come forward.
“We need more gogos who are over the age of 60 from KwaThema to join the team to form a B division,” she adds.
Coach Innocent Mayoyo says he is grateful to have been appointed as coach.
“The elders are very fit because of years of exercising, which makes my job a bit easier.
“We are focusing on improving their skills on the pitch, tackling the ball and building their stamina.
“Through the practices, we also have to identify the best players for different positions,” he says.
“We are working hard towards competing nationally, and eventually move across the border,” he says.
