Winchester Walking Football's Coach Goes International!

Our inspirational coach, Heather Kirkland, who is behind Winchester Walking Footballers recent success on the pitch, also coaches England Ladies Over 60's. Recently they had the honour of travelling to Brazil to promote Walking Football & it's benefits. Here is Heather's account of her remarkable trip:

'Part of the WFA‘s role is to promote and extend the sport throughout the world.

This year the Brazilian Walking Football Federation requested a mini tour by our men’s and women’s over 60 squads with a view to promoting the sport for women in South America. This trip took place in September.

The Walking Football Brazil is based in São Paulo where we were invited to the home of the football Museum in the Pacaembu Stadium which held the 1950 World Cup and the 1963 Pan- American Games, not forgetting Pelé scoring 113 goals here.

We were based in São Paulo and played two matches.

My role was to promote the women’s game. This involved how we warmed up and a number of playing scenarios . All of this was videoed by the WFB academy for their training and development programme.

The WFB is specifically aimed at women over 60 as they recognise the health benefits from the social aspect of sport.

In the first match, which became an exhibition match, England greatly outclassed the Brazilian side and gave us an insight on how we could help improve their game .

In the second match we split the England team and mixed in the Brazilian players which was hugely appreciated by our hosts. It allowed their players to become much more involved in the game and a sense of achievement when one of their players scored a goal.

There was a match commentator over the loud speaker who was getting very excited and the crowd of local school children went wild .

The WFA motto “ FUN, FITNESS AND FRIENDSHIP” was certainly followed.