Playing football at a walking pace

you had me had to sit at the table last year; I was a dead sparrow. It started with a flu that wouldn’t go away and eventually I was in intensive care with a severe pneumonia. Even after that I was still tired. My pulmonologist found out that because of all those antibiotics my immune system no longer worked properly, so that viruses and bacteria had more or less free rein. She prescribed a six-week course, which worked immediately.

Because my condition was completely gone, I thought it was important to move more. As a teenager I had already played football and I saw in a magazine a call for walking football at a club near here. I really liked it right away and only missed one training in a year, because I was on vacation. My pulmonologist was shocked when I came back for a check-up, my values ​​had changed so much. In a positive way. She said exercising outside was the best thing I could have done. Amazing, right?

We have a nice group of twenty men and five women. Since physical contact and running are prohibited, it doesn’t matter if there is a man or woman in front of you. Our trainers are also constantly inventing new exercises, not all of which have to do with football. We get a total package of exercises. That variety makes it even more fun. I also do fitness, but because you do the same thing over and over there, it gets a bit boring.”

Richard de Ruiter (66) ‘–I get a lot of energy from it, physically and mentally’

Six months ago I didn’t feel so well in the evening and the next day I started talking gibberish at an appointment. Then I turned out to have a tia. I was lucky that my motor skills were not further affected. Things are going pretty well now; I just occasionally can’t come up with a word and get overstimulated in a room with a lot of noises.

My doctor advised me to keep exercising. I even think the damage was not too bad because I am quite sporty. I had been playing walking football for a year and could continue to do so after the tia. Until I was 49 I played football in the hall, I did mountain biking and tennis. Because my neck started to hurt, I had to stop. I am a welder and my work has worn out my intervertebral vertebrae.

After that I went ice skating. A friend brought me to walking football. Because it is less fierce than normal football, my neck can handle it well. It actually gives me a lot of energy. Physically, but also mentally, because of the social aspect.

Sometimes we’re like a tea party, texting until two in the morning. I can’t often participate in the weekday tournaments now because I have to work. Next year I will retire. My wife is fine with me playing football more, as long as I am home when the grandchildren come to stay.”

Dolf Titaley (71) ‘My doctor was surprised that my condition had improved so much’

At my 50th I had a heart attack; Then I stopped playing football. Until last year I received a phone call from a former teammate, Joop Kols, who was setting up walking football teams in Moluccan neighborhoods. He really thought it was something for me to try.

I was excited to put my football boots back on. I have type 2 diabetes and my kidneys are only working at 10 percent. After the first training, I was hooked: I might not be able to participate in everything, but it felt familiar. I immediately clicked again with the men I had not seen for twenty years. After six weeks I came back to my doctor and he was surprised that my condition had improved so much. I really feel a lot better than a year ago.

I like to participate in tournaments, but no more than one a week. Otherwise, I know from experience, I will be a total loss on the couch for a few days. When Joop gives a clinic in a Moluccan neighbourhood, I try to be there too. Moluccan elderly people stay at home too much and are quick to say that they cannot exercise. Even if they are otherwise healthy. If they see others doing it, they still want to participate. Of course they can exercise. If I can do it, so can they.”