Donholm Mixed, Uhuru Goldies win inaugural Nairobi Walking Football Championship

Donholm Mixed and Uhuru Goldies were crowned champions of the inaugural Nairobi Open Walking Football Tournament held on November 29 at the Uhuru Sports Complex in Nairobi.

Donholm Mixed secured the title in the Mixed category, while Uhuru Goldies dominated the Women’s category.

Speaking after the prize-giving ceremony, Donholm Mixed captain and coach Mureithi Ritho expressed his delight at guiding the team to its maiden championship.

He praised the resilience of his squad—most of whom are above 50 years old—and shared his ambition to see several of his players earn national team call-ups.

“I am so happy to be a winner today. It’s not easy to lead and coach persons who are over 50 years old because of the obvious challenges, but I am glad that women have shown tremendous passion for this sport. That is why we have about seven of them and only three men,” Ritho said.

Donholm Mixed topped the standings with eight points, edging out Awendo, who finished second with seven points. Tournament hosts Uhuru Mixed placed third with six points.

In the Women’s category, Uhuru Goldies outperformed their opponents to finish with nine points. Awendo secured second place with seven points, while Kuria came in third with six points.

Walking Football Kenya Federation President Mwangi Kiarie noted that the federation is engaging corporate partners and government agencies to support Kenya’s participation in the 2026 Walking Football World Cup, scheduled for May in Brisbane, Australia.

“We missed last year’s World Cup in Spain due to financial constraints, but we are now working on building an active national team and sourcing funds to enable us to travel and compete,” Kiarie said.

As the curtains fell on the first Nairobi Open Walking Football Tournament, focus now shifts to preparations for 2026. The Walking Football Kenya Federation has pledged to strengthen the sport’s structures, expand participation, and ensure Kenya makes a strong debut on the global stage.