GOGO PRAISES DSD FOR ALLOWING SENIORS TO ENJOY THEMSELVES DESPITE RAINY WEATHER

• Despite being unable to compete in the soccer events at the 2025 Golden Games – due to the rain – the women’s team from Gauteng enjoyed the alternative activities on offer.
• Gogo Khosi Obose from Johannesburg congratulated the organisers for having an alternative plan for the participants of the National Active Ageing Programme, held in North West from 18 – 20 February 2025.
• Obose is part of the provincial women’s soccer team that was eager to defend their Golden Games title – but the matches were all rained out.

Gogo Khosi Obose from Johannesburg was proud to be part of the Gauteng team at the 2025 National Golden Games held in the North West Province.

The 65-year-old soccer player said their team was ready to compete and showcase their talent, but because of the inclement weather things did not go as planned.

However, Obose, who is affectionately known as Spider on the pitch because of her versatility, applauded the government officials for putting an alternative plan in place to enable the 2025 National Active Ageing Programme to continue and for allowing older persons to enjoy themselves.

She said the Gauteng women’s soccer team are committed to a healthy lifestyle through sporting activities, adding that they were ready to defend the championship title they won in the previous games.

“Without a doubt, I enjoyed myself, even though some of the activities were disrupted by the rain. We enjoyed being part of other activities,” she said.

As elderly people, their objectives with the games is to keep themselves continuously healthy so that they can age gracefully without problems, Obose said.

The activity also helped avoid old age-related chronic diseases such as diabetes.

She encouraged other senior citizens from across the country to participate in the active ageing programme, saying it advocates a healthy lifestyle for elderly people.

“I hope that in the next edition of the Golden Games the number of elderly people will increase even more so that there is no single senior citizen left behind,” she said.

“I would love to see many golden oldies participating in these games because they keep us healthy and strong,” she added.

Obose highlighted that as one of the elderly people actively involved in the games, her wish is that older persons who reach the finals should be rewarded with a small something as encouragement, beside the trophies and medals.