Dear Editor,
Portimonense is to be congratulated in promoting walking football 50+ as reported recently. It should be pointed out that walking football was introduced to Portugal over 10 years ago and not by the Portugal Football Federation, who at that time showed no interest in the new sport.
Thanks to generous publicity by the Resident newspaper, the first ever session took place at the José Arcanjo Stadium, Olhão, home of SC Olhanense, in September 2014 and the first international visitors were Cove Rapidly Ageing Pensioners from Farnborough, Hampshire UK in February the following year.
East Algarve Walking Football (EAWF) then introduced the sport to Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, whilst numerous teams from Europe have visited the Algarve to play in tournaments over the last decade.
EAWF organises three sessions a week at Olhão and twice weekly at Tavira.
A women’s team has evolved and is proving equally popular. The mantra of ‘fun, fitness and friendship’ holds firm and a total non-contact session has encouraged people to continue playing well into their 80s.
For more information, visit eastalgarvewf.com
Chris Wright BEM, President & Founder EAWF
