The Namibian Golden Oldies Football Club, a spirited team of footballers aged 60 and above, is set to travel to Botswana for a highly anticipated friendly match against the Chelsea Veterans this coming Sunday.

The Golden Oldies is a unique football club made up of retired players who still share a deep passion for the beautiful game. 

The club was founded with the primary aim of promoting healthy living, staying active and bringing a sense of community to its ageing members, many of whom are former football stars from different regions of Namibia.

Club chairman John Ramaphutla said the idea behind the club was simple but powerful – to combat boredom, stay fit and create a space where like-minded former players could socialise and relive the joy of football. 

“Most of us grew up playing this game. Retirement didn’t mean we had to stop. We just found a new way to keep the spirit alive,” he said.

The club is entirely self-funded. 

Members contribute financially to arrange travel, accommodation and logistics for games both locally and abroad. 

This dedication reflects not only their commitment to football but also to one another as teammates and friends.

Club event organiser Theodore Kambanda said they made an earlier trip to Botswana three weeks ago to finalise arrangements for the upcoming match.  “We wanted to make sure everything was in order. We’re excited and ready. We started this club because we missed playing. Watching local football was no longer enough. We wanted to get back on the field, even if just for friendly competition,” he said.

Although the team primarily consists of players over the age of 60, it occasionally welcomes guest players aged between 50 and 58 to join the action, especially during bigger events or when squad numbers are low. 

At present, the travelling team consists of approximately 15 players, who are expected to depart for Botswana today.

Over the years, the Golden Oldies have participated in matches in northern Namibia and were also slated to face a group of South African football legends last year. 

Unfortunately, that match did not materialise, as their South African counterparts were not ready.  -lmupetami@nepc.com.na