Walking Football to be rolled out across Namibia
Walking Football 4Health Namibia (WF4HN), operational in Windhoek at the Khomasdal Community Hall since July 2023, is preparing to participate in a Walking Football 4Health tournament in Cape Town during November.
Great interest has been received from other towns across Namibia (Oshakati, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz and Rehoboth, to name a few towns), prepared to start walking football in their communities.
The purpose of this sports code is to serve men aged 50 and above, and women aged 40 and above, with an opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle, not just physically, but also mentally and psychologically on the walking football fields.
Indoor practice sessions are held on Mondays and Thursdays 18:00 to 20:00 at the Khomasdal Community Hall, whilst games are being played every Saturday 09:00 to 11:00 at the Special Olympics Stadium in Katutura.
Walking Football was founded in 2017 in South Africa and is a fast growing sport, having some 800 clubs in England alone, and it’s been successfully piloted in a number of Australian states over the past 12 months.
Organisers are particularly excited by the opportunity this program will bring for Namibian communities, as Walking Football offers a great low-impact, team-based exercise, providing physical and mental health benefits and social connectedness and fellowship for older Namibians.
It reinforces football as the sport that everyone can play, regardless of ability or whether you’re aged 50 or over 75.
As we all get older, the opportunities to keep fit decrease and are often limited to isolated activity. Walking football allows the over 40s ladies and over 50s men to play a competitive sport in a sociable, healthy and safe environment.
If you’ve not tried it before and think what’s the point, realise it can be quite competitive as well as being a great way to stay fit and healthy.
Of course, as well as being able to increase your fitness levels, emotional health can also be given a boost by turning out for regular sessions, meeting old friends and new people. Don’t worry if you haven’t pulled a shirt on for 20 years.
The rules are simple, the same as 7-a-side, except if you run, or tackle, you concede a free kick.
WF4HN is fortunate to have been invited to participate in Cape Town, in an over 40 ladies and over 50 men’s soccer tournament, from 24 to 25 November. The team of 30 players will participate in 6-a-side walking football; 5 & 6-a-side running football, or 11-a-side running football.
Current members of the WF4HN leadership team are James Alvin Links (chairperson) at 081 576 5897, Lance Willemse (treasurer) at 081 498 4134 or Mathew Haikali (PRO) at 081 332 4233, or e-mail enquiries to [email protected] or [email protected].
More details of the national program, including the intention to establish clubs and ultimately a national league, will be released soon.
Great interest has been received from other towns across Namibia (Oshakati, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz and Rehoboth, to name a few towns), prepared to start walking football in their communities.
The purpose of this sports code is to serve men aged 50 and above, and women aged 40 and above, with an opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle, not just physically, but also mentally and psychologically on the walking football fields.
Indoor practice sessions are held on Mondays and Thursdays 18:00 to 20:00 at the Khomasdal Community Hall, whilst games are being played every Saturday 09:00 to 11:00 at the Special Olympics Stadium in Katutura.
Walking Football was founded in 2017 in South Africa and is a fast growing sport, having some 800 clubs in England alone, and it’s been successfully piloted in a number of Australian states over the past 12 months.
Organisers are particularly excited by the opportunity this program will bring for Namibian communities, as Walking Football offers a great low-impact, team-based exercise, providing physical and mental health benefits and social connectedness and fellowship for older Namibians.
It reinforces football as the sport that everyone can play, regardless of ability or whether you’re aged 50 or over 75.
As we all get older, the opportunities to keep fit decrease and are often limited to isolated activity. Walking football allows the over 40s ladies and over 50s men to play a competitive sport in a sociable, healthy and safe environment.
If you’ve not tried it before and think what’s the point, realise it can be quite competitive as well as being a great way to stay fit and healthy.
Of course, as well as being able to increase your fitness levels, emotional health can also be given a boost by turning out for regular sessions, meeting old friends and new people. Don’t worry if you haven’t pulled a shirt on for 20 years.
The rules are simple, the same as 7-a-side, except if you run, or tackle, you concede a free kick.
WF4HN is fortunate to have been invited to participate in Cape Town, in an over 40 ladies and over 50 men’s soccer tournament, from 24 to 25 November. The team of 30 players will participate in 6-a-side walking football; 5 & 6-a-side running football, or 11-a-side running football.
Current members of the WF4HN leadership team are James Alvin Links (chairperson) at 081 576 5897, Lance Willemse (treasurer) at 081 498 4134 or Mathew Haikali (PRO) at 081 332 4233, or e-mail enquiries to [email protected] or [email protected].
More details of the national program, including the intention to establish clubs and ultimately a national league, will be released soon.
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