
The former Werkself player Jorginho, at Bayer 04 from 1989 to 1992, joined his teammate Bebeto in in 2000 in setting up the project Bola Pra Frente. Together with his two former clubs, Bayer 04 and FC Bayern, the organisation Stars4Kids now collects donations for this facility in Brazil's capital Rio de Janeiro.
Fans now have the chance, up to 2 July, to buy one of the shirts worn in the top match at auction via the platform United Charity and raise funds for a good cause.
The shirts to be auctioned:
HERE for the shirt worn by Lukas Hradecky
HERE for the shirt worn by Edmond Tapsoba
HERE for the shirt worn by Aleksandar Dragovic
HERE for the shirt worn by Sven Bender
HERE for the shirt worn by Wendell
HERE for the shirt worn by Julian Baumgartlinger
HERE for the shirt worn by Charles Aránguiz
HERE for the shirt worn by Kerem Demirbay
HERE for the shirt worn by Nadiem Amiri
HERE for the shirt worn by Paulinho
HERE for the shirt worn by Florian Wirtz
HERE for the shirt worn by Karim Bellarabi
HERE for the shirt worn by Moussa Diaby
HERE for the shirt worn by Leon Bailey
HERE for the shirt worn by Lucas Alario
Information on the project Bola Pra Frente:
‘Bola Pra Frente’, sport and education centre in the Rio de Janeiro district of Guadalupe helps young people to determine their own future and also find a more positive way of living away from drugs and criminality. It is one of the biggest social and sporting projects in the capital. The Brazil World Cup winner Jorginho, former Bayer 04 player, open the institute in 2000 alongside his teammate Bebeto.
Young people aged from 6 to 17 receive professional educational support from professional athletes, coaches, psychologists as well as social workers. The children and teenagers take part in the course is free of charge and have the opportunity to take up sporting activities and work on career-related projects. The centre offers language, mathematics, health, art, theatre, music, dance and computer courses.

Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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