Matete Legends: Keeping Fit and the Love of Football Alive

By Raphael Wanjala

It is a typical Sunday afternoon in rural Western Kenya. Families are returning from church, while others are winding down the weekend ahead of another week of work and business.

At Matete Sports Ground, however, a different routine is unfolding. Boots are being laced, teammates are exchanging greetings and players are preparing for a football match.

These are the Matete Legends; a team whose members share a passion for football but have different reasons for playing.

Some have returned to the sport after years of competitive football; others have always loved the game, while some simply want to exercise, socialise and spend their leisure time productively.

Established in February 2024, the team has grown to 23 members. Its aim is to keep football alive while promoting fitness and discouraging unhealthy lifestyles.

A Team for Every Football Enthusiast

For many former players, the end of a competitive football career can also mean losing the routine and social connections that came with the game.

In parts of Western Kenya, some leave the pitch without finding another regular way to remain involved, although others stay connected through different roles.

Matete Legends offers an opportunity to bridge that gap. Its founder, Martin Luvisia, saw a need to give back to the community in Matete Sub County, where his own playing career was established.

Luvisia says he came up with the idea after noticing that some former footballers were turning to alcoholism after their careers ended, often because of injuries or age.

He was particularly affected by seeing former teammates lose the activity and purpose that football had given them.

He described the change as painful because he had known some of them from their primary school playing days through to professional football.

“There were people I played with all the way from primary school to professional level but when the game ended due to injuries or age, they did not have anything to fall back on only ending up in chang’aa dens. This was very heartbreaking,” he said.

The team welcomes retired footballers, people who never played professionally but have maintained an interest in the sport, and members of the public looking for an enjoyable way to stay active.

Experienced players share their knowledge, while recreational players bring enthusiasm. A professional playing record is not a requirement.

Matete Legends plays on Sunday afternoons, giving members a regular opportunity to play while balancing weekday responsibilities and family commitments.

Sunday Football and a Healthier Lifestyle

The weekly matches offer exercise without the pressure of professional football or demanding competitive schedules.

Running, walking, changing direction and coordinating movement make the game a useful form of physical activity, with members able to participate according to their abilities.

The team’s purpose also includes discouraging former players and other community members from descending into alcohol and drug abuse.

By providing a regular recreational activity, Matete Legends encourages members to spend their Sunday afternoons on the pitch, maintain friendships and build new social connections.

Arnold Muye, a civil servant with a demanding and unpredictable work schedule, says the weekly engagement gives him an opportunity to unwind after the working week and prepare for the next one.

His weekday commitments make it difficult to sustain a regular training programme, so the Sunday session provides a dependable opportunity to exercise and clear his mind.

“Monday through Friday is about managing schedules and deadlines. On the weekend, we sweat out the week’s tension, sweeping away the mental clutter bringing both body and mind back to life,” said Muye.

Football cannot, on its own, resolve substance-abuse challenges, which may require professional intervention and wider community support.

However, initiatives such as Matete Legends provide opportunities for physical activity, companionship and positive use of leisure time.

From Sunday Sessions to the Irene Muronji Foundation Tournament

Although recreation and fitness remain central to the team, members have also tested themselves in organised competition.

One memorable milestone was their first participation in the Irene Muronji Foundation Tournament in Webuye.

Luvisia says the tournament gave the amateur side an opportunity to play against teams beyond their regular Sunday sessions.

Matete Legends progressed to the quarter-final stage before its campaign ended. Although the team did not reach the semi-finals, he considers the first appearance and run to the last eight a notable achievement.

“Beating teams that train and play football regularly was a morale booster to the players. They were motivated to keep showing up every week even if the stakes are not in their favour as their primary concern is to keep fit and continue socializing,” he said.

The tournament also brought an unexpected reward. Irene Muronji, the title sponsor, presented the team with playing kits in recognition of its participation.

“The tournament sponsor was very impressed with our performance against other teams. He called us after the loss not only to console us but to motivate us. The motivation was not monetary awards but in form of playing kits. Since we had one kit at the time this was very much welcomed,” said Luvisia.

For an amateur team, the playing kits were practical support and a reminder of its first tournament experience.

The Webuye outing also gave Matete Legends competitive experience and recognition beyond its regular playing circle.

Building a Football Community

The 23 members bring different levels of football experience to the team. Their Sunday sessions provide time to play, catch up and maintain relationships, with the emphasis on participation and enjoyment rather than professional expectations.

Luvisia says the initiative has encouraged some former players to move away from alcohol use and idling at home, and to pursue other interests in football.

Some have joined refereeing and coaching classes, allowing them to remain connected to the sport in different roles.

The intention is not only to keep former players active on the pitch, but also to help them identify other ways of using the experience they gained through playing.

“We have players here whom we encouraged to join the referee and coaching clinics. It is encouraging to see some already officiating Football Kenya Federation league matches within Kakamega County and this is a positive sign,” says Luvisia.

One of them is Robert Wanyama, a former player and original member of Matete Legends who is now an accredited FKF Assistant Referee.

He stopped playing after sustaining a knee injury during a tournament match and spent some time on the sidelines.

After joining the team, another member suggested refereeing as an alternative way to remain involved in football.

“I love playing football. The injury may have shortened my playing time but it did not stop my love for the game. When Marto, as they call Luvisia here, called I responded and participated in the first match against police officers stationed at Matete Police Station. From here one after the game someone suggested that former players take up refereeing or coaching and I took that challenge positively and enrolled for the refereeing course,” says Wanyama.

Although his knee has never fully recovered, Wanyama still makes time to play for Matete Legends whenever he does not have FKF fixtures.

His experience reflects one of the routes through which a former player can remain involved: an injury curtailed his playing time, but refereeing gave him another role in the game while leaving room for occasional recreational football.

The team’s development shows how grassroots football can accommodate people interested in fitness, recreation and competition without professional contracts or expensive facilities.

The initiative has also earned support from the local community. Some local supporters believe football enthusiasts should find ways to enjoy the game even when they are no longer able to play actively.

John Malimbe, a coach of Matete United junior teams, says former players can be overlooked when they stop competing or take on work and family responsibilities.

He also notes that Matete Legends members sometimes speak to his junior teams. Their presence gives young players access to people who have experienced the game at different levels and can offer guidance as they consider their own football journeys.

“We appreciate these efforts. We know that as they keep the players active they will also be providing guidance to upcoming players and giving them direction on their football careers.”

Such interaction gives former players an opportunity to pass on their experience while encouraging young footballers to think about their development both on and off the pitch.

It also gives the team a community role beyond its Sunday matches. The team can build on its work through friendly matches, local tournaments and partnerships with supporters of community sport.

The Game Goes On

For Luvisia and his teammates, the priority remains to keep playing, stay fit and sustain an environment where people can enjoy football and use their leisure time constructively.

As another Sunday afternoon ends, the players leave Matete Sports Ground, discuss the match and return to their other responsibilities.

The routine resumes the following Sunday. Their story is still unfolding, one afternoon at a time, and as the team likes to say, “Sunday afternoons are for unfit football.”