Even as the thrill of the World Cup comes to a close, football fever has not faded. It has simply found a different pace on a sheltered pitch every Thursday morning.
Orange Valley Active Aging Centre (AAC)’s Walking Football Programme brings together over 50 male seniors, aged 60 and above. They play football together with a passion for the sport that rivals high school students during their Thursday training sessions to stay active, and make friends in the process. Strict contactless and no-running rules ensures players enjoy the sport with minimal injury risks.
For retired police officer Mr Vijayamohan, 67, football seemed like a closed chapter after suffering a severe leg fracture at age 35 that kept him away from the pitch for over two decades. He used to stay active doing solitary exercises, but joining the team offered him a chance to experience the communal spirit in sports once again.
“For me, it is new as a retiree to come out from the normal environment and play. It is a whole adventure and it is very fulfilling,” he said.
Tackling Senior Isolation Through Sport
Mr Vijayamohan’s journey reflects the vision of Mr Adrian Rennie Pereira, 61, an Orange Valley AAC coordinator who was one of the pioneers in establishing the Orange Valley AAC Seniors Walking Football Team in 2023 to combat senior isolation. Observing that few male seniors visited active ageing centres, Mr Adrian realized that the love of football could bridge the gap. “We build a community,” he said.
“The idea was to keep fit and work together as a team so you can see the camaraderie among the players,” Mr Vijayamohan added.
Keeping The Passion Alive
Football has always been a way of life for 66-year-old retiree Mr G. Divagaran, an Orange Valley AAC volunteer. Having played as a defender for Bukit Panjang Club in his younger years, he hung up his boots at 30 and has laced those boots again 30 years later for walking football.
“Football is in my blood. I thought that by the time I retired, football was out of my life, but suddenly this walking football came into the picture,” Mr Divagaran said.
As one of the initial members, he recalled how they slowly built up the team, and now they have more than 50 members.
“Playing makes me feel younger. The most important thing is that I’m a role model for other seniors.” He adds that the contactless game helps seniors rebuild muscle mass and stay healthy. “Walking football is not only for old people,” Mr Vijayamohan added. It helps improve an individual‘s fitness level, he said, and can thus be played by those of all ages.
Safety First
To prioritise safety, Mr Adrian partnered with Walking Football4Health Global, whose president, Dr Dee Dee Mahmood, conducts specialised training, stretching and warm-ups.
“Walking football is a safe and effective tool to directly combat the specific health crises facing our Indian seniors. It moves beyond just exercise; it’s about building community resilience and empowering individuals to take control of their health in an enjoyable, sustainable way, fostering healthier ageing for all,” she said.
“They give us at least 20 to 30 stretching exercises which really help,” says businessman Mr Mathiazhagan, 67, who rejoined the sport after 40 years after being invited by his friend, Mr Vijayamohan a year ago. Thursday are now firmly “chope-d” for football practice, and is something that everyone looks forward to, he said. “My wife was very happy that I’m coming here, meeting friends. In life we need friends, so we feel less lonely.”
A Triumph Of Unity
Beyond fitness and fun, the pitch has become a vibrant microcosm of Singapore’s multicultural harmony. “You can see different races are here, and we are all very close friends, there are no race barriers. It’s just football, and getting to know each other. Everybody’s happy,” he said.
This unity has yielded real success. The team was crowned 2025 NHG Healthiverse Walking Football champions, and won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2026 15M Health Games, and now aims for the Walking Football World Cup.
Beyond trophies, the program builds an unbreakable brotherhood, visiting each other’s homes and looking out for one another. They prove that on the pitch, you’ll never walk alone.
