The Walking Football 4Health Namibia (WF4HN) team is set to participate in the WF4H football tournament scheduled for Cape Town on 24 and 25 November 2023.
The tournament will be hosted by the Multi Socca Movement in Cape Town, South Africa, and Namibia will be sending a team of 30 players to participate in the following categories of games: six-a-side walking football, five and six-a-side running football, and 11-a-side running football.
In a media statement seen by this publication, the team is currently busy preparing for the Cape Town trip by training in Khomasdal twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays, between 18h00 and 20h00, while games are being played every Saturday from 09h00 to 11h00 at the Special Olympics Stadium in Katutura.
The treasurer of the team, Lance Willemse, is quoted as saying there has been an increased demand for the introduction of walking football in many towns across Namibia.
“There has been great interest received so far from other towns across Namibia, including Oshakati, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitz, and Rehoboth, to name a few towns. People are now prepared to start walking football in their communities,” he said.
Walking football as a sport 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.
Willemse says in order for this trip to be a success, the team is requesting financial and any type of support to assist with transport to Cape Town and return, accommodation for five nights in Cape Town, meals for six days, team uniforms and clothing, and training bibs for 30 players.
Earlier this month, WF4HN had a demonstration at the Special Olympics Stadium in Katutura in support of the First Lady’s “One Economy Foundation” social welfare organisation, themed: #WeAreEqual&Fit, organised by their #BeFree movement.
Walking football is a growing sports phenomenon overseas and was founded in 2017.
It is currently the fastest-growing sport in South Africa, with some 800 clubs in England alone, and it’s been successfully piloted in a number of Australian states over the past 12 months.
* Those willing to support the team can contact Willemse at +264 81 498 4134.