Walking football: ‘Completely chocolate after a tournament’

Walking football is for the over 55s. Walking is of course not allowed, you have to keep the ball low and physical contact is out of the question. Sometimes people make fun of walking football, but that’s unjustified. It is an intensive sport, good for the condition, but social contact is just as important.

There is no real walking football competition, but a lot of tournaments are organised. Ten teams will participate in Rumbeke, including Zulte Waregem and AA Gent. And the oldest player of the tournament will join the Buffalos: Chris Wytinck, he is 73.

‘I can assure you, if you have to play a number of 20-minute matches in a row, you will be choco in the evening. That is good for people aged 55 or 60, but then you are completely exhausted. Especially if you don’t have many reserve players. Fortunately there are only 4 games today’, Chris laughs.

Another notable name is former referee Johny Ver Eecke, he plays for Zulte Waregem.