“Keeping ourselves active is the best medicine”

“The government is not doing anything for our elderly people. Keeping ourselves active is the best medicine for the illnesses that affect us,” said an elderly member of the Matanda old-age soccer team.

The manager of the team, Ms Rose Rambasa, said it was an honour for her to form the team. “The elderly are doing good things. Being active can help them to improve their health. With diseases such as diabetes, cancer, strokes and heart disease so prevalent, this could work to their advantage,” she said. She encourages others to also participate in sport.

She said that the old women were true examples of female empowerment, because they were displaying that there was no longer a sporting code for a certain gender. She also commended them for keeping themselves fit and encouraged them to maintain an  active lifestyle. "By practising active lifestyles, you are a very good example to your children and grandchildren and they will simply follow in your footsteps."

She reminded the elderly to focus on positive things, rather than to worry about the things that they cannot change. Vho-Denga Magodi says she kept herself healthy by training twice a day. She plays soccer, because she believes this is a good way of staying fit and it also relieves stress. She started off participating in sport when she was still very young and her team mates were often young boys.

Sport - Date: 16 March 2015

Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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