Teachers from Matete and Lugari sub-counties are increasingly turning to sports as a way of improving their mental well-being, physical fitness and social connections, using the school holiday period to unwind from the demands of the teaching profession.
The initiative was on display on Thursday when Matete Teachers FC travelled to Panpaper Grounds for a friendly football match against Lugari North Teachers FC.
Matete Teachers FC claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory in an entertaining contest that brought together educators from the two neighbouring sub-counties.
Beyond the result on the pitch, participants said the matches provide an important opportunity for teachers to interact, build friendships and support one another away from the pressures of the classroom.
Speaking to the Western Kenya Times, Matete Teachers FC captain Victor Bateta said sports have become an effective platform for promoting teachers’ mental health while strengthening professional relationships.
“This is one of the few places where teachers interact, engage with one another and, for a while, forget about the challenges affecting them. The friendships and support we build here have greatly improved our mental well-being,” Bateta said.
He noted that teachers organise sporting activities on the 20th of every month, allowing educators to remain physically active, expand their professional networks and improve their overall wellness.
According to Bateta, the programme extends beyond football, with teachers also participating in basketball, volleyball, athletics and other recreational games to ensure educators with different talents and interests have an opportunity to take part.
He said the variety of sporting activities has helped strengthen teamwork, reduce stress, improve physical fitness and enhance teachers’ mental well-being, ultimately making them more productive both inside and outside the classroom.
Lugari North Teachers FC captain Sammy Mwangi echoed the sentiments, saying the initiative has fostered a strong support network among teachers while creating opportunities for schools to tap into coaching talent within the teaching fraternity.
He noted that schools in Lugari have increasingly relied on qualified teacher-coaches instead of hiring external trainers, citing Munyuki Senior School as one of the institutions that has benefited from the expertise of teachers involved in the programme.
The two teams agreed to strengthen their partnership by holding regular sporting engagements, with the next series scheduled for August 20, 2026, at Bishop Sulumeti Girls Senior School in Lumakanda Ward.
