LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE: HLF) has teamed up with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA http://www.usasa.com), the Massachusetts Adult State Soccer Association (MASS), the Veterans Cup committee (http://www.veteranscup.us) and the Lexpressas women's soccer team to help the Vakhegula-Vakhegula soccer team come to America to compete in the annual Veteran's Cup tournament this week. Known as the 'Soccer Grannies,' the women from Limpopo, South Africa are ages 49 to 84.
Vakhegula-Vakhegula means 'Grannies' in the local Xitsonga dialect. Twice a week they swap domestic chores for football, donning soccer boots instead of their usual rubber sandals to play in local matches. Seven other teams have been set up in Limpopo, also holding regular training sessions. The league called the Top Eight provides a venue for the Grannies to compete twice a year.
The team was founded by Beka Ntsanwisi, who is known as "Mother Theresa of Limpopo." She is the recipient of many awards from 2002 through 2008 for outstanding contribution in the fields of health, education and youth development in the rural villages of Limpopo.
To help the Vakhegula-Vakhegula team, the USASA, the Massachusetts Soccer Association and the Veterans Cup committee have provided Veterans Cup registration fees and tournament participant insurance fees. The Lexpressas, a Boston-area women's soccer team, are taking responsibility for housing, meals, some activities preceding or following the tournament; and transportation of the team to and from Boston to Lancaster. South Africa Partners assisted with fundraising support and is continuing to collect tax-deductible donations for the Grannies. To donate please specify "Grannies Football Fund" in the gift information field at: http://www.sapartners.org/
Herbalife joined in to help after a Los Angeles Times article brought the team to the company's attention. "Herbalife is the official nutrition sponsor of 12 professional soccer teams around the world including FCBarcelona and the LA Galaxy, as well as the AYSO here in the U.S.," said Herbalife Chairman and CEO Michael O. Johnson. "We were inspired by these women who have overcome significant obstacles to play soccer. Yesterday we were cheering on Spain with seven FC Barcelona players in the World Cup - this week we're cheering on the Grannies." The company provided funding for round-trip travel expenses, sponsorship support, and like the LA Galaxy, the Vakhegula Vakhegula will be wearing Herbalife on the front of their jerseys.
The Veterans Cup tournament was established in 1998 by the United States Adult Soccer Association. Men's and women's teams compete in divisions ranging from 30 to over 65 years of age. This six-day event will be held July 13-18, 2010 in Lancaster, MA and hosted by the Massachusetts Adult State Soccer Association, which anticipates 100 adult soccer teams, comprising approximately 3,200 players, family members, and supporters: http://www.veteranscup.us.
The tournament will be held at Citizens Bank Fields at Progin Park in Lancaster. It is a 250-acre state-of-the-art facility approximately 40 minutes west of Boston and features sixteen FIFA-regulation soccer fields. Attendance at the games is free. Limited parking is available; carpooling is strongly recommended.
The Vakhegula-Vakhegula (Soccer Grannies) game schedule:
-- Thursday, July 15th - 10:00 am Field 6 vs the Bay State Breakers Six-O
Massachusetts
-- Friday, July 16th - 8:00 am - Field 4 - vs San Diego Celtics 60 -
California South
-- Saturday, July 17th - 11:00 am - Field 1 vs HKP550 - Hawaii
Photo/Video/Interview Opportunities:
-- Grannies group arriving at Boston/Logan airport, Wednesday, July 14
-- Grannies' games
-- Team founder Beka Ntsanwisi
-- National Veterans Cup Chair Tim Busch
-- Massachusetts Soccer President Cezar Wasecki
-- Michael Johnson, Herbalife chairman and CEO
-- The Lexpressas, the Boston-area over-40 women soccer players who
doggedly pursued getting the Grannies to the games and are the ones who
made it happen.
-- Thursday, July 15, 6:30 PM, The New England Over the Hill League and the
Eastern Massachusetts women's soccer league are hosting a reception for
the South African Grannies and for the Tokyo Seniors from Japan. Players
and media are invited. Four Points by Sheraton Leominster hotel, 99
Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453.
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/area/map.html?propertyID=818
Herbalife links: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
About Herbalife Ltd.
Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF) is a global network marketing company that sells weight-management, nutrition, and personal care products intended to support a healthy lifestyle. Herbalife products are sold in 73 countries through a network of approximately 2.1 million independent distributors. The company supports the Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife program to help bring good nutrition to children. Herbalife's website contains a significant amount of information about Herbalife, including financial and other information for investors at http://ir.Herbalife.com. The company encourages investors to visit its website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.
*Herbalife is the Official Nutrition Sponsor of FCBarcelona, FC SChalke, KV Mechelen, LA Galaxy, Lyngby BK Old Boys, Molde Fotbalklubb, Pumas, RC Strasbourg, San Martin Porres, Santos, SVB Excelsior and Valencia. The company sponsors more than 50 sports and fitness teams, individual athletes and events including the AYSO and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball player Leo Messi. http://www.herbalifesports.com/EN/home.asp
Source: Herbalife Ltd.
Released Jul 13, 2010 • 7:00am EDT