It is a chilly Sunday morning and as most people nurse hangovers after a
Douglas Nyakundi is one of the Nairobi residents who has been playing football at Camp Toyoyo. In his tracks and a matching AC Milan jersey, he joins his teammates, mostly men in their 40s and 50s, to keep fit through football. A Sunday morning visit to most football pitches in Nairobi paints a picture of the working class slugging it out on football pitches.
“I keep fit and keep lifestyle diseases at bay. When we play, we are invincible. We have this sense of determination that drives us to unimaginable heights. It is a feeling that I can’t accurately put into words,” says Douglas who has played for Maxwell FC for 15 years now.
These intense soccer sessions are however not for the faint-hearted and Douglas admits that just like young footballers, they jog and do gym workouts midweek. It helps them prepare physically ahead of a tough two-hour football match.
It is also not easy to balance family weekend demands with football. Most come to the field with their children while at times, their wives join in especially during friendly matches to motivate them.