RETIRED, BUT STILL ACTIVE

By Boitumelo Boweni

• Soccer player Johanna Rahube, representing the North West Province, has competed in the National Active Ageing Programme since 2015.
• The 69-year-old, who plays striker in her football team, claims that since she joined her club in 2014, she has scored more goals thank Kaiser Chiefs in their current season.
• Rahube said young people should emulate the elderly so that they lead a healthy lifestyle, free from obesity and other opportunistic diseases.

Meet an astounding fit female soccer player who has not allowed old age to get in the way of scoring her goals. 

Now she is taking part in the 2024/45 National Active Ageing Programme taking place in Rustenburg, North West.

Johanna Rahube from Madibeng in Brits, North West, is a former manager at DJ Group who left her place of service in 2013 at the age of 58.

During her retirement, she would frequently take morning jogs around her neighbourhood and to keep herself active. “There was no way I was going to let my grandchildren give me grey hair before my time” the 69-year-old said, jokingly.

In 2014, Rahube joined the Mmakaou Service Club and took part in their female soccer team. “I play the striker position in a number 9 jersey,” she said.

“Since joining the club, I’ve competed in all the Golden Games from 2015 as a striker – and have scored more goals than Kaizer Chiefs this current season,” she laughs.

Touching on the 2025 Golden Games hosted in North West, spoke about how happy she was to be part of the host team and is ready to show other provinces her striking skills – should the weather allow them to play at the Impala rugby stadium.

Torrential rains have been pouring in Rustenburg since Monday, forcing the senior citizens to engage in the indoor activities of the national Golden Games.

“Despite the rain, I’m happy to meet new people and reacquaint myself with old faces. But I’m mostly disappointed that I won’t get to show off the skills I’ve garnered since the last Golden Games in Mpumalanga and compete to bring the female soccer trophy home.

“If we don’t get to compete today, I will be waiting to compete for the throne again next year,” Rahube said.

The Golden Games, Rahube said, enhance good health and longevity.

She said young people should emulate the elderly so that they lead a healthy lifestyle, free from obesity and other opportunistic diseases.