Walking Football and Parkinson's Disease Awareness Tournament 2024

It Wasn’t your typical sports event; It was the Walking Football Parkinson’s Cup 2024

On November 30, 2024, Lagos, Nigeria, came alive with a unique blend of sportsmanship, awareness and community spirit as the second Walking Football and Parkinson's Disease Awareness Tournament unfolded. Organised by Parkinson's Africa and the Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson's Disease Foundation (ADPF), in partnership with the Waka Football Association Nigeria, and generously sponsored by the Vitol Foundation, this extraordinary event welcomed over 450 attendees to the Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos.

The day was a testament to the power of sport in fostering connection, breaking stigma and raising critical awareness about Parkinson’s disease.

A Memorable Start to the Day

At dawn, volunteers and teams from ADPF, Parkinson’s Africa and Waka Football Nigeria began preparing the venue. Registration commenced at 8 am, with attendees enthusiastically collecting team shirts and warming up for the games ahead.

By 9 am, the event was officially launched with an inspiring opening led by John Akinola and Tania Park. A warm-up and walking football demonstration by the Waka Football team set the stage, energizing participants and spectators alike.

At 9:45 am, Omotola Thomas delivered the welcome address alongside special guest Professor Akin Abayomi, Lagos State’s Honorable Commissioner for Health, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Professor Abayomi spoke passionately about the importance of raising Parkinson’s awareness and invited people with Parkinson's (PwPs) to collaborate with the Ministry of Health. His presence underscored the government’s commitment to supporting such impactful initiatives.

Walking Football in Action

The Waka Walking Football Team demonstrated the unique rules of walking football—a slower-paced version of the sport emphasizing strategy and teamwork—before engaging attendees, including Professor Abayomi, in a brief but lively game.

The Tournament Highlights

Thanks to Kieran's meticulously planned match schedule, the tournament kicked off promptly at 10 a.m., featuring 18 teams competing fiercely in an exhilarating two-stage showdown:

Round 1: Elimination matches
Round 2: Semi-finals and Finals

Eliminated teams participated in penalty shootouts, keeping the excitement alive for all.

Midway through the event, attendees were moved by stories shared by PwPs like Rachel and Empress, who offered insights into living with Parkinson’s disease and the transformative power of awareness and support. This segment culminated in an inspiring walking football match by the Parkinson’s Warriors, clad in vibrant yellow shirts—a heartfelt tribute to resilience and unity.

The competition heated up as the semi-finals and finals approached, culminating in a thrilling raffle draw with prizes donated by Nike, sparking further engagement and joy among attendees.

Crowning the Champions

After intense matches and spirited gameplay, the champions emerged:

Asharami Synergy: Tournament Winners
Steady Striders: Runners-Up
Physio Boyz: Third Place (defeating Halogen in a play-off)

In the penalty shootout rounds, the winners were:

Vitol
First Bank
New Birth

Event by the Numbers

Teams: 18 (Vitol, Asharami Synergy, LES Energy Services 1, LES Energy Services 2, First Bank, Air Tel, AIICO Multishield, Halogen, Physio Boyz, StreSERT, Steady Striders, Fan Milk, Reliance HMO, PFL Engineering, New birth, Neuro Knights, Dopamine Dynamos, Team Volunteers)
Total Attendees: 450
PwPs: 50
Games Played: 29
Goals Scored: 77
Fun Had: Unlimited

Heartfelt Gratitude

The event closed with remarks from John Akinola, Acting Executive Director of ADPF, who expressed deep appreciation to all participants, supporters, and volunteers.

Special thanks to:

Vitol Foundation, ADPF, Parkinson’s Africa
Waka Walking Football Nigeria
Nike, LES Energy, First Bank, StreSERT, Airtel, AIICO Multishield, Fan Milk, Asharami Synergy, Halogen, Reliance HMO, PFL Engineering
The dedicated teams, supporters, and volunteers who made the day a resounding success.