The president of Kenya Walking Football Federation, Kiarie Mwangi (left) presenting T-shirt to Mr. Ricky Weir, FIWFA African Director of Walking Football at Uhuru Sports Complex after officially launching walking football in Kenya.
WHY OUR ELDERS NEED TO STEP OUT: THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF WALKING FOOTBALL
There is a new game in town. Walking Football is a non-contact type of football played by persons aged fifty (50) years and above. It is played by both genders. It’s a six-aside game played in 30-minutes with new rules.
First, there are no off-side rules. Secondly, no running permitted with or without the ball. Both teams are allowed unlimited substitutions during the game, but tackling and physical contact are strictly forbidden.
“Players must always be walking – “always having one foot on the ground,” says Mr Kiarie Mwangi President – Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF). He says KWFF is affiliated to the Federation of International Walking Football Association (FIWFA).
This is the international governing body was founded in 2018 with the aim of promoting and developing this type of football globally. Other key mandates of FIWFA includes establishing uniform laws of the game, protecting its integrity and inclusivity, as well as to organise international matches and tournaments.
Locally, the Kenya Walking Football Federation (KWFF) was duly registered in August 2024, having complied with legal and statutory requirements as provided for by Registrar of Sports office. Kenya joined other African countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda and Morocco.
“KWFF is also locally affiliated to the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance of Kenya (NCDA-K). KWFF is also in communication with department of older persons under the Ministry of Health,” says Mr Mwangi.
KWFF’s vision is to promote a healthy ageing population and to boost social networking amongst elderly citizenry through physical exercises. The benefits of walking football include reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strokes.
Walking also improves blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and improves blood sugar levels, lowering the risks of Type 2 diabetes. “The exercise results in better sleep quality, boosts mental health and reduces stress. It also improves balance and co-ordination,” says Mwangi.
The government of Kenya encourages exercise among the elderly through the Kenya National Sports Policy – KNSP – (published March 2002). “The aged will be encouraged and sensitized on the importance of having regular physical activities and engaging in passive sports, indoor and outdoor games for graceful ageing” (point 3.7.1 page 16).
The policy encourages government departments and well wishers to liaise with homes for the elderly to make provisions for recreation space, facilities, equipment and activities. It also encourages the participation of veterans and senior citizens as volunteers in sports programmes.
Additionally, part of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto on sports states; “Our international athletes should also never retire to a life of penury. Our sporting prowess also portends tremendous opportunity to build a sports economy value chain that includes hosting of international sporting events, training facilities and manufacturing of sports apparel and equipment,” boasts the KK manifesto.
The Constitution of Kenya (Article 57) commands the State and the family to offer older persons in the society reasonable care and assistance. As per the Constitution, older persons are those who have attained the age of 60. It states “The state shall take measures to ensure the rights of older persons – (a) to fully participate in the affairs of society; (b) to pursue their personal development and (c) to live in dignity and respect.
Mr Mwangi says that for people with arthritis, walking is highly recommended as it strengthens muscles, which helps shift pressure from joints and reduce pain. Regular walking compresses and releases the cartilage in the knees and this helps in synovial fluid circulation which nourishes the joints.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), regular physical activity in adults and older adults is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, incident hypertension, incident site-specific cancers, incident type-2 diabetes, and falls and improved mental health, cognitive health, sleep and measures of body fat.
Doctors say walking helps in improving cognitive abilities – the prefrontal cortex – the part in brain tasked with problem solving and decision making. These include, dementia, a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
To obese persons, amongst the key benefits of walking include counteracts to the effects of weight-promoting genes as well as reducing cravings and intake of a variety of sugary snacks. “It tames a sweet tooth and reduces risks of developing breast cancer and also eases joint pains,” adds Mr Mwangi.
In Nairobi County, the local association currently holds weekly sessions at Uhuru Sports Complex (Fridays) and at Donholm Primary School (Saturdays), bringing together an average of 16 elders per session. With corporate partnership, the goal is to popularise the game across all the 47-counties and also regionally.
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