The squad under head coach Gerardo Seoane will prepare for next season in Zell am See-Kaprun from 14 to 22 July. As in previous years, Lukas Hradecky and Co. will stay at the Hotel TauernSPA in Kaprun and train at the Alois-Latini-Stadium in Zell am See. Two friendlies are planned during the stay in Austria.
“Ten years of training camps in the one and the same region – that is exceptional by Bundesliga standards. And, in my eyes, an indication of the good partnership between SalzburgerLand and Bayer 04,” said Werkself CEO Fernando Carro. “The hotel is great, the training ground is good, the hospitality is cordial and the organisers come up with new ideas every year. The team, coaching staff, club management and our fans always feel at home. Not to forget: We have always qualified for European competitions with one exception since 2013.
The fact the tenth Werkself training camp in Salzburger Land is not in 2022 is down to the coronavirus pandemic and the associated changes to the match calendar in the summer of 2020. Back then, the Bundesliga season ended in June, the DFB Cup final was at the start of July and the finals of the UEFA Europa League were in August. That left no time for a pre-season away from Leverkusen.
“The Werkself have deep roots in Leverkusen but they have found a home away from home in SalzburgerLand. Our partnership of the past ten years has developed into a true friendship,” said Leo Bauernberger, CEO of SalzburgerLand Tourismus Gesellschaft (SLTG). “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Bayer 04 Leverkusen back to the training camp in July and we will provide the opportunity for top preparation for next season’s European highlights. I would like to take this opportunity to invite all Werkself fans to Zell am See-Kaprun. Is there anything better than combining the passion for the Werkself with a summer holiday in the Salzburg mountains?”
Renate Ecker, tourism director for Zell am See-Kaprun: “Germany is one of our biggest and most important markets both in the summer and the winter. The Bayer 04 Leverkusen training camp very much underlines our activities, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia. Zell am See-Kaprun is well established as a sports destination and we are in the best position to convey that. The large number of sporting opportunities coupled with the natural world of glaciers, mountains and lakes provides optimum conditions for the Werkself to make the most of training and the necessary rest and recovery.”
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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