Algarve’s first women’s walking football team is open to new players
Walking football may be known mostly as a men’s sport, but one team in the Algarve is proving that it can be enjoyed just as much by women.
The Central Algarve Hotshots Woman Walking Football (CA Hotshots WWF) team was created in October 2022 after a group of women arrived in the Algarve to support their husbands who were participating in a local walking football tournament in Vilamoura.
However, these women did not just want to support their husbands; they wanted to play a match of their own. The issue was that there were no women’s walking football teams in the Algarve at the time. To ensure that they did not leave the Algarve disappointed, a few local women who had never kicked a ball in their lives decided to join in a friendly game with the visitors.
Two of the local players, Nelya and Angie, ended up “falling in love” with the sport and decided to continue promoting it among residents through the creation of their own team. Over time, the club has grown not only in numbers, but also in reputation and skill, with the help and support of Central Algarve Walking Football Club (CAWF), which is a local men’s walking football team. The CA Hotshots’ coach Will King and many others have also given their time, effort and knowledge to help the team grow.
“We now have over 20 players of 10 nationalities, aged from 38 to 73. We are currently training twice a week and have played friendly games with Jeanfield Swifts (Scotland), Iberas Seville WF, Benalmadena WF from Málaga and the East Algarve women walking football team, formed in 2023,” said club manager Nelya Fraser.
“We have entered two tournaments in 2024, won our first trophy at the Eurocopa 2024 held in Ferreiras, and we are looking forward to many more games, tournaments, trophies and meeting new teams,” Nelya added.
“Of course, this is not only about football, but also the social life of our club, the enjoyment of spending time together on and off the pitch, building friendships and providing support to each other. Inclusivity and diversity are key; the club holds on tight to the intrinsic beliefs that everybody is valued, worthy, respected and brings something different to the table, or the pitch,” the club manager stated.
As Nelya points out, walking football has positive effects on the body and the mind, helping build body strength, improve muscles and core stability, increase overall fitness levels, and boost self-confidence and self-esteem. The sport is suitable to players of all levels of ability and fitness, from people who are returning to sports after a break or those who’ve never played before.
Women aged over 40, with or without previous football experience, are invited to give walking football a try. CA Hotshots WWF hold their training sessions at Quarteira’s no.2 pitch every Monday and Wednesday (except on public holidays) at 9am during the summer.
You can learn more or follow CA Hotshots WWF on Facebook @Central Algarve Walking Football Women
