Maccabi FC Walking Footballers Shine at Brisbane Tournament

The vibrant world of walking football was on full display at the 7th annual QUT Cup held at Football Queensland’s impressive new facility at the Nudgee Recreation Reserve over the weekend of April 26, 2025. The tournament, featuring six divisions ranging from Men's 50+ to a Mixed W40+/M50+ Social category, drew nearly 40 teams from across Australia, including three dedicated players from Maccabi FC Walking Football.

Michael Riley, a seasoned participant in NSW and Queensland tournaments with the Central Coast Ancient Mariners Men’s 60s team, brought his experience to Brisbane. Having first joined the Mariners for the Pan Pac Masters last year, Michael values the high level of competition. He noted, "It's a great learning experience playing with guys that have represented Australia in past and upcoming overseas tournaments."

Sam Silver's journey into walking football tournaments began after being spotted in Caulfield Park by the head of the Over 70s Walking Football committee. Now a regular at WF tournaments, Sam's dedication has reportedly earned him a potential spot on a national team heading to Europe later this year. Overflowing with enthusiasm, Sam shared, “I am just so happy and grateful for playing Walking Football even at my age. It keeps me fit and youthful, and I love meeting other Walking Footballers from all over Australia.”

Kevin Milstein, the enthusiastic "gaffer" of Maccabi FC WF, received a late invitation to the Brisbane tournament and seized the opportunity. Reflecting on his experience, Kevin said, “It was such a wonderful experience to be amongst so many like-minded players. All the games that I played in and watched were played in great spirit, and many new friends were made. Despite the fact that my team didn’t win a game, I still learned so much about the game from just playing against much better footballers than me.”

Regardless of their teams' final standings, Michael, Sam, and Kevin are united in their anticipation for the next walking football tournament. The lure of honing their skills and reconnecting with newfound friends continues to drive their passion for the beautiful game, albeit at a walking pace. KOW!