Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Day three blog: Footvolley an Ipanema beach– Quansah and Kofane on board

+++ 17 July, 18.12: Bayer 04 legends and Guitler play Footvolley on Ipanema Beach +++

For Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas after the Bayer AG Football School it was back to the centre of Rio to meet two of their former Leverkusen teammates on the world famous Ipanema Beach: Henrique and Zé Elias. Also the very famous Brazilian female footvolley and teqball player Natalia Guitler came to play a couple of rounds of footvolley with the former Bayer 04 players.

Henrique, under the Cross in 2008/09 and now the owner of a second division club in the south of Brazil, talked about a "Really great experience of being here for Bayer 04 and with all the other big personalities who used to play at Leverkusen. With all this joy and fun, the significance of the work of Bayer 04 and the Bayer company should be centre stage. Their commitments here in Brazil, above all with children, are extremely important. I'm very proud to be part of the history of this club."

Zé Elias was also happy to see his former Leverkusen teammates: "That all that is over 30 years ago is an incredibly long time. That makes this moment even more beautiful – above all being able to wear the jersey again!" On his season at the Werkself (1996 – 97) the 48-year-old, who now lives in San Paolo and now works as a commentator for ESPN Brazil said: "The year in Leverkusen was one of the most formative and best experiences of my life. A completely new culture, a new language and a completely mad Reiner Calmund. (He laughs) But I found friends for life and I'm incredibly grateful for that."

+++ 17 July, 16.35: Media event with Carro, Rolfes and ten Hag +++

After a two-hour morning session on the training ground, while the players enjoyed an afternoon off from training that included a short trip to the beach and into the sea, there was a big media event in the team hotel with the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes plus head coach Erik ten Hag. The trio talked about tomorrow’s friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team on Friday 18 July (kick-off: 14:30/19:30 CEST).

They also talked about their first impressions of football crazy Brazil and the reasons for holding the training camp in the land of the five-time World Cup winners. The key statements from Carro, Rolfes and ten Hag are available in the report.

TO THE REPORT

+++ 17 July, 12:46: Quansah and Kofane at first training session +++

The training sessions continue on the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour. For the lads it means after breakfast: on the team bus and off to the Ninho do Urubu training ground. The team have the last session ahead of tomorrow's friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team.

The two new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane trained for the first time. The duo landed in Brazil yesterday and joined up with the squad. Both put on their boots today and the first training session could begin in Werkself kit.

Photos and report to follow on the training session.

+++ 17 July, 10.23: Lots of joy for kids, coaches and legends +++

This event in the morning brought a broad smile to everybody's faces: This morning, club legend Paulo Sergio, former Leverkusen player Rodrigo Chagas, football influencer ‘Brabogordinho’ plus other Bayer 04 representatives took part in a training session with over 130 children at the Bayer AG Football School north of Rio de Janeiro. Information, reaction and scenes of fun will be soon be shown on our channels.

TO THE ARTICLE

+++ 17 July, 8.27: An eventful day ahead +++

Good morning from Rio! Today there are a number of events – some at the same time – on the agenda. The Werkself will complete another training session in the morning with new signings Jarell Quansah and Christian Kofane taking part for the first time. Paulo Sergio and Rodrigo Chagas will be training with 130 children in a northern suburb of Rio de Janeiro at the Bayer AG Football School before the duo meet up with other Brazilian former Leverkusen players in the afternoon on the Ipanema Beach.

At the same time, the team hotel will be the venue for the big media event ahead of tomorrow's friendly against the Flamengo U20 team with head coach Erik ten Hag plus the two Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes. The day ends with a joint dinner hosted by Bayer 04 and Bayer Crop Science.