The Werkself players arrived in good mood late in the afternoon for the first training session of the new year. Before the players went on the pitch, there was a warm-up session inside the BayArena including several stretching exercises. Fans already present were able to watch the Werkself warm up from above.
Around seven o'clock, the Bayer 04 players entered the pitch at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium to the backdrop of thunderous applause and vocal support from the 1,700 fans. Also in the group were youth players Artem Stepanov, Othniel Raterik and Andrea Natali.
In the presence of the sporting managing director Simon Rolfes and director of professional teams Thomas Eichin the session started in icy temperatures of two degrees with passing and receiving drills in small and large groups. Head coach Xabi Alonso kept a close eye on proceedings and again and again made a contribution. The goalkeeping trio including captain Lukas Hradecky as usual worked separately with goalkeeping coach David Thiel. To follow up there were more intensive drills in tight spaces as well as a sprinting session.
After the intense session, the returning Werkself players took time out for autograph and photo requests from the fans present.
The training sessions on Saturday and Sunday will be behind closed doors. On Sunday, 5 January, the Werkself have a friendly at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium against Regional League side Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. The match kicks off at noon CET. All the tickets for game have been sold but there will be a free live stream on Werkself TV as well as on YouTube.
The first competitive match for Bayer 04 in the new year follows on Friday, 10 January (kick-off: 20.30 CET) away to Borussia Dortmund. Away tickets for the first match of the year for the German double winners have all been sold. The first game for the Werkself at the BayArena is on Tuesday, 14 January (kick-off: 20.30 CET) against Mainz 05. Remaining tickets are available HERE.
With three games to play before the end of the season, the Bayer 04 Women can break one record and equal another at SGS Essen. After three wins on the bounce, coach Roberto Pätzold's team are aiming to maintain the chance of third place in Sunday’s away game (14:00 CEST, Stadion an der Hafenstraße).
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From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen – and back: in March, Bayer 04 travelled with Edmond Tapsoba for a special project in his homeland Burkina Faso. The country where his roots and heart lie. The country where he’s more than a world-class defender: a symbol of hope and a role model for an entire generation. The result is a 45-minute documentary about Tapsoba’s long journey from Africa via Portugal to Leverkusen, which offers extraordinary, one-off and emotional insights.
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Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
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A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
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This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
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