How Football Is Helping Older Women in Kenya—and Beyond—Live Longer, Healthier Lives ,On a bright Saturday morning in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, the sound of laughter mixes with the thud of a football being kicked across a dusty field. The players arrive in colorful kit, some wearing headscarves, others in bright skirts tucked neatly into their shorts. Their average age? Sixty-two. Their energy? Boundless.They call themselves Kenya Grannies Mutei FC — and they are part of a growing movement of older women across Africa who have decided that aging should not be quiet. It should be bold, loud, sweaty, joyful — and sometimes fiercely competitive.But behind the cheers and playful banter is something deeper. These women are not just playing for fun. They are playing for their health. Their healing. Their years.

A Movement Born from Necessity

The idea began with a worry. Elizabeth Keitany, the team’s founder, watched her aging mother struggle with health issues until a doctor recommended something simple: movement. A little exercise. A bit of fresh air.So she gathered a few women. Then a few more. Soon they were jogging lightly, stretching together, and, eventually, kicking a ball around. What began as a small circle for gentle exercise evolved into a full 90-minutes matches filled with sprints, tackles, and roaring laughter.Today, they are one of the flagship teams under the Kenya Grannies Football Federation (KGFF) — a national initiative that now counts hundreds of teams and thousands of grandmothers across Kenya. In a recent tournament in Iten, more than 70 teams showed up, 80 percent of them women over 50, each with a story about why football has become their medicine.One of those women is 75-year-old Rebecca Cheboi, who remembers waking every morning with chest pains. “Since I started playing, I feel strong. I feel young. I feel…alive,” she says, stretching her arms wide as if embracing the entire field.Another, 55-year-old Gladys Lagat, was advised to undergo surgery for a spine injury — until football changed her life. After months of playing, her mobility returned, her pain decreased, and her doctor was stunned.

Backed by science, fueled by sisterhood

Their stories are powerful, but they’re also supported by science.A 12-week study on older adults found that recreational football significantly improved functional fitness — everything from standing up more easily to walking faster and maintaining balance more effectively. Other research shows that regular play boosts muscle strength, cardiovascular health, and even bone density.And there’s the emotional side: the laughter, the friendships, the community.“It gives you a reason to wake up early,” says one granny. “A reason to walk out of the house. A reason to smile.”Globally, similar teams are forming — from South Africa’s Vakhegula Vakhegula to grannies participating in the Grannies International Football Tournament (GIFT). But Kenya’s movement stands out for its scale, passion, and health-driven purpose.Doctors in the region report lower blood pressure, better glucose control, and improved mobility among the players they monitor. Simply put: football is extending lives.

Why it works: The Health Benefits

Stronger Bodies: Regular matches improve stamina, mobility, agility, and bone strength.• Chronic Disease Protection: Reduced hypertension, fewer arthritis flare-ups, improved heart health.• Mental & Emotional Renewal: Lower stress, greater confidence, and deep social connection.• Independence: More strength means more freedom — the ability to cook, clean, walk, and even farm without relying on other people’s help, Purpose & Identity. Football restores something society often takes from older women: their sense of self.

A Call to Action: Let Them play

The message is clear: when grandmothers play football, communities thrive.Governments can support them with fields, equipment, and funding. Health organizations can integrate football into senior wellness programs. Families can encourage older relatives to join teams, or even create new ones. Researchers can study the long-term impact and help shape national health policy.This isn’t just a hobby — it’s public health in motion.

Kicking Towards a New Future

As the sun starts to dip behind the hills, the Mutei FC grannies gather in a circle, sweaty and smiling. Someone cracks a joke. Someone else breaks into song. And then, almost ceremonially, they lift the football high above their heads.For them, the ball is more than leather and air. It’s freedom. It’s healing. It’s life.And as they jog off the field — hips swaying, laughter echoing — one thing becomes beautifully clear:Age may wrinkle the skin, but football smooths the spirit.And these grannies aren’t done playing anytime soon.