Tucked away, outside of the bustling centre of Lagos, is Casa Benfica, a fan hub and community centre dedicated to supporters of Benfica football club. These casas (houses) are located worldwide, offering supporters the opportunity to watch matches and enjoy the company of other like-minded people. Casa Benfica in Lagos, however, is a little different. The club is proudly active in promoting participation in football at both ends of the age spectrum. Sports editor David Lugg went to the club to find out more.
The walls of Casa Benfica Lagos are adorned with memorabilia and reminders of the glorious football history of its parent club. With 38 league titles, there is much to shout about. But there is more to this community centre than just watching football. The emphasis here is on participation.
The club has been running youth football teams for local children for around a decade. At a time when we are surrounded by ubiquitous phones and screens, the need for getting children involved in sport has become more crucial than ever. Club secretary Ana Protásio explains more about the role they play within the community.
“We have four teams, for ages between four and thirteen. We don’t have a pitch, so we have an agreement with Bensafrim to use theirs. Three of the four teams play games every week in the local league (aside from the youngest kids). Besides that, we also play in Mexilhoeira and Alvor, and we meet with private schools three times a year that don’t play in the leagues. We need to include everyone.”
Indeed, inclusivity is the foundation upon which every community is built. This is why their latest project reaches out to an entirely different age group. Walking football is designed specifically for older players (over 50 for men and over 40 for women) who want a safer, lower-impact way to continue playing the sport they love. Its growth across the world has been exponential. Casa Benfica Lagos is the latest club to incorporate a team into their community programme. Walking football player Tony Burke explains more about why he began playing.
“I played football quite competitively in England and then stopped. As many guys do, I defaulted to golf, away from the physical rigours of football. But when I came to the Algarve, I was looking for something to do. I discovered walking football, which really gives you an answer to the physical and mental challenges when you retire.”
The rules of walking football are an adapted version of the original game. Players must walk, not run, and physical contact is limited, making it a safer option for people who still want to play but do not want the speed and impact of the full game. Sessions tend to be social as well as competitive, which can help people stay active and, equally as importantly, stay connected. Fellow player Malcolm Hyde describes the benefits of playing the game.
“There are two key benefits deriving from playing sport in your latter years. One of them is definitely the physical side, but the other is the mental. We meet up every Tuesday and Friday, play from 10 until 12, and then have a coffee or a beer afterwards. We promote community over competition.”
The walking football team already has a pool of around 30 players, and they are looking to develop it further for both men and women. Furthermore, one of the key goals is to persuade more Portuguese players to participate. Getting older Portuguese men and women to play sport has been an ongoing challenge. But with players up to 82 years of age at the club, there is certainly plenty of inspiration.
The format of walking football still rewards passing, positioning and teamwork, but equally, it gives participants a reason to meet up each week and be social. And as Tony surmises, “There are players at the club who would say that the cup of tea is just as important as playing the game. It’s about fun. There’s a lot of fun to be had.”
Together, they hope to increase regular participation and strengthen the club’s role in the community. If you are interested in the youth team or in walking football, then do pay a visit.
www.facebook.com/casadobenficaemlagos
Casa Benfica Lagos will be holding open days in Bensafrim on 4, 6 and 7 June, when they will showcase both youth football and walking football. A walking football exhibition will be on 6 June at around 5 pm.
