"We want to keep healthy and strong at all times."

This was remarked by the happy grannies of Ha-Davhana village, who had formed a soccer team, Davhana Grannies Soccer Team. The grannies had been playing soccer in a tattered soccer kit for a very long time.

They could not believe their eyes when a local company handed them a brand new soccer kit and three soccer balls last week.

Hasivho Trading and Project brought hope to the enthusiastic grannies. According to the marketing manager, Mr Laurence Mabaso, the donation was a way of giving back to the community. "We have been touched by the plight of the grannies, who seemed committed and dedicated to sports but lacked resources. We then decided to buy them a brand-new soccer kit and soccer balls," he said.

The team has 18 players and also challenges other granny teams in soccer matches. The team manager, Ms Thilivhali Nemaungani, said the team was a special project of the Davhana Society for the Care of the Aged, an NGO that looks after the elders in the village.

The organization was first established in 1998. The organization currently has 31 elders attached to it. The centre manager, Ms Thilivhali Nemaungani, said the team was established with the aim of helping the elders to relieve stress and keep them healthy. "Exercise is very important for the elders who spend most of their time sitting downnot doing anything," she said.

Mr Johannes Davhana, one of the elders and the captain of the team, said that he felt young again. "Excersising is really helping me a lot, and I also enjoy playing football," he added.