A month after returning from their four-day International Grannies Football Tournament in Tzaneen, players of the Itsani Gogos FC team, who formed part of the Northern Stars Squad, received a warm, hero's welcome back. On Thursday, 18 May, the whole community gathered at Tawarani Sports Grounds in Itsani to show how proud they were of the team.
The gogos, guided by veteran coach Mr Eric Ramavhale, were beaten 3-0 by America in the semi-finals. The tournament featured 16 teams from various countries.
The welcome-back event for the gogos was the idea of well-known businessman Advocate Nthambeleni Randitsheni and his wife, Patience, who presented the team with a full soccer kit and brand-new tracksuits for each player.
Speaking during the event, Thovhele Thivhulawi Makumbane encouraged the elderly residents from his village to participate in sports to keep their bodies healthy. "We are excited as the rulers here to have these gogos who have made us very proud by participating in a world event and reaching the semis, for that matter." He also thanked the sponsors who had made the team's participation possible.
Advocate Nthambeleni Randitsheni said he had been watching the gogos practising on his way to work for some time. "I was highly impressed by the determination they have shown, and that is why I decided to assist them before they approached me. For me, giving to the needy gives me peaceful sleep. Besides the kit and tracksuits, I have decided to help them with water and juice during practice, and to cover their travelling needs to games," he said.
Coach Ramavhale was very excited. "We have done our best during our campaign in Tzaneen. We are very happy to be appreciated like this and very grateful for the kind gesture from Advocate Randitsheni," he said.