WaF4H Singapore’s First Landmark Training at Toa Payoh Stadium and excited to meet MP Saktiandi!
39-year old Football Crazy Person has been in love with football ever since he attended Singapore National Team’s matches at Kallang Stadium in the roaring 80’s. Has been a goalkeeper for a good part of the decade for a variety of teams but joined WaF4H last year because of the team’s mission and values.
WaF4H does not only allow participants to play football, holistically the team concentrates on various other aspects as well such as food, nutrition and personal well-being. Hopefully WaF4H can lengthen this writer’s career, be it in the football field or in the part-time writing arena as well.
WaF4H Singapore’s First Landmark Training at Toa Payoh Stadium
Whenever Toa Payoh Stadium is mentioned, Singaporeans will have a few things that automatically become connected to the place. Running track, athletics training area, yoga enthusiasts meet-up point and definitely not forgetting the home ground of Singapore Premier League’s Balestier Khalsa.
Now you can add on Walking Football4Health’s dedicated training area to the list. Every Sunday, from 5 to 7 pm, a group of dedicated Walking Football enthusiasts can convene at the iconic Toa Payoh Stadium to be put through their paces during the training sessions.
Led by Celebrity Exercise Physiologist and Nutritionist Dee Dee Mahmood, participants can now enjoy the facilities and the huge soccer field which can now be used by the huge growing number of WaF4H’s team members.
Walking Football4Health, or WaF4H for short, is a communities health empowerment movement by Dr Dee Dee as well as a research initiative in her work as an Associate Adjunct Senior Lecturer for Edith Cowan University, Australia.
29th September 2019 Marks WaF4H’s Inaugural Training Session at Toa Payoh Stadium
Thanks to our Member of Parliament Saktiandi Supaat, who serves the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, he welcomes Walking Football4Health on their first training at the Toa Payoh Stadium.
Mr Saktiandi is very excited about the program.
Mr Saktiandi commented, “Walking Football is a very good sports initiative especially when the demographics is changing.
It gives more opportunities to those who are above 40, 50 years of age to extend their sporting life beyond the usual age, and be engaged in a sporting activity that is less physically demanding.
Besides the trainings being done in Toa Payoh Stadium, the location being close to Toa Payoh heartland, this hopefully encourages the residents in the vicinity to come every Sunday 5 to 7 pm to actually enjoy the activities and have an understanding of what Walking Football is.
That’s the main aim of why we are supporting this Walking Football movement in Toa Payoh.”
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| Walking Football is a Sport for the Whole Family regardless of Age |
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| Having Discussions About Walking Football for Health |
He said, “We are going to work with Walking Football4Health team to further this activity and hopefully create a bit more buzz in Toa Payoh first and hopefully we will spread the word and attract a wider and diverse group from all over Singapore.
I wish WaF4H all the best. This is a meaningful sports initiative.
Ground up and organic, I support a lot of these types of initiatives. I am glad that we are kicking off from Toa Payoh and hopefully we can spread it all over Singapore.”
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| MP Saktiandi with WaF4H Team, Dr Dee Dee Mahmood and Officials of Toa Payoh East - Novena CSC and Active SG |
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| Calisthenics Session before the Strategy Drills |
Such positivity during the training session was exactly what Mr Saktiandi loved to see.
He said, “When I went to the launch of Walking Football in Tampines Hub, you can see the more senior players enjoying themselves.
You see different families with different age groups playing together and having a fun time.
Dee Dee Mahmood approached me to attend the Walking Football launch, so I got involved and once I saw the game I find that it will be very good for the activity to be held somewhere in the central location.
In Toa Payoh and East Novena area, we have a large number of people who are above 50 or 60. It will be good to have such an activity that includes the senior citizens and at the same time allowing the younger people to join in as well.
Regardless of race or religion, we want to engage any one who is able to join in the Walking Football activities.”
Muhammad Hatta Bin Abdul Kadir is a resident of Toa Payoh and recently joined the program in September 2019. The experience of joining a family of Walking Footballers has been an enjoyable one for him so far.
He said, “I joined the program to support my wife who was encouraged by a close friend to join due to its health benefits.
It has been a very good experience because at least there is some sort of structured exercise every week, even though it’s just once a week.
Happy lah, that we live in Toa Payoh and I feel proud also because it is endorsed by an MP (Mr Saktiandi),”he opined excitedly.
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| Mr Hatta (second from right), Datin Yah Mauri, Mr Yazid and Mdm Suzanna are all happy Toa Payoh residents |
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| Very Good Workout Session for Everyone |
Given the number of “interested” looks from passers-by in the stadium, WaF4H might be off to a good start in spreading their message.
So what are you waiting for? Put on some walking shoes and walk toward Toa Payoh Stadium every Sunday, between 5 to 7 pm. It's Walking Football time!
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About Dr Dee and Walking Football4Health:
https://iamdeedeemahmood.blogspot.com/2017/10/i-am-dee-dee-mahmood.html
https://iamdeedeemahmood.blogspot.com/2017/10/i-am-dee-dee-mahmood.html
Walking Football4Health 2019 in Review
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Go to deedeefitness.com if have missed past episodes of Lifehacks (infotainment on health, beauty, food and nutrition and home ergonomics deigns for wellness)