Federation Press & Updates
News, Tournaments & Stories
Follow our journey on the pitch — from local county leagues to international showdowns.
Follow our journey on the pitch — from local county leagues to international showdowns.
KGFF squad at GIFT — Limpopo
Tournament opening ceremony
Kenya vs France
Pre-match team preparations
Award ceremony and celebration
The Kenya Grannies (Masters) Football Federation made history in South Africa, competing in the Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT). Facing teams from France, Zambia, USA, and host nation South Africa, Kenya's grandmothers demonstrated exceptional skill, stamina, and sportsmanship on the international stage.
The delegation of 22 players, 3 coaches, and 2 officials departed Nairobi on 5 October 2023, marking Kenya's first official international grannies football mission under the KGFF banner. The tournament, hosted by the Mama Beka Foundation at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, attracted 8 national teams from four continents.
Kenya's squad, nicknamed the "Green Grannies", opened their campaign with a spirited 2–1 victory over Zambia, drawing loud applause from local spectators moved by the players' determination. Centre-forward Mama Lydia Chepngetich, 63, scored Kenya's opener to a standing ovation.
In the semi-final, Kenya faced the hosts South Africa in a tightly contested match that ended 1–1 before Kenya bowed out on penalties. Despite the result, Dr. Elizabeth Keitany, Founder and President of KGFF, described the tournament as "a watershed moment for masters football in Africa, establishing that active ageing knows no borders."
Off the pitch, players attended a health and wellness symposium on active ageing, participated in bilateral exchange programs with French and American delegations, and were honoured at a cultural gala celebrating African grandmothers.
The trip was made possible through partnerships with the Kenya Sports Fund, corporate well-wishers, and the Mama Beka Foundation of South Africa. KGFF has already received an invitation to the 2025 GIFT Edition in France.
Local health officials partnered with KGFF to provide free hypertension and blood sugar checks prior to kick-off at Kapsabet Stadium.
The event brought together over 300 grandmother players from across Nandi County. Health screenings were conducted by qualified nurses and doctors partnering with the county health department.
Results showed significant improvement in blood pressure readings for players who had been active for over 6 months. The county medical officer commended KGFF's model as a blueprint for senior health outreach in rural Kenya.
The subsequent derby saw 12 teams compete in a round-robin format, with Kapsabet Queens taking the county championship title. Over 2,000 community members attended as spectators.
In celebration of Mazingira Day, player members from 12 grassroots clubs teamed up with local schools to plant shade trees around match venues.
The West Pokot Tree Drive was a landmark event in KGFF's environmental programme. Over 5,000 indigenous trees — acacia, Mugumo, and Nandi Flame — were planted across schools.
The initiative was supported by the County Government of West Pokot and patners such as KVDA and many more. Players wore specially designed green jerseys for the event, symbolising their commitment to a greener future.
The drive also served as a community bonding exercise, with players, schoolchildren, and county officials working side by side. A second drive is planned for Siaya County later in the year.
Baringo, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu County Associations officially complete registration, expanding the national network to 13+ counties.
The formal registration ceremony for Baringo, Nakuru, and Uasin Gishu counties took place at the KGFF National Secretariat in Nairobi. Each county presented their governance structure, a minimum of 15 registered clubs, and compliance documentation under the Kenya Sports Act.
The Secretary General, Desmond Kemboi Kirui, presided over the ceremony. The new associations immediately gained access to KGFF's national tournament calendar, health programme partnerships, and table banking cooperative network.
With 13+ counties now affiliated, KGFF is on track to reach its goal of 47-county coverage by 2026 — representing every county in Kenya with an active grannies football association.
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