20.05.2022Bayer 04

Völler in Querétaro: A trip down memory lane

No other community project is as close to Rudi Völler’s heart as this one: The former Germany international visited the orphanage in the city of Querétaro in 1986 during the World Cup in Mexico. That was the beginning of a relationship between the future 1990 World Cup winner and the charitable institution that still exists 36 years later. During the #Bayer04MexicoTour, Völler has now returned to Querétaro accompanied by his successor Simon Rolfes – and he brought a generous cheque for the orphanage as well as lots of presents for the 40 children there.

It was probably the most moving moment of many with the visit of Rudi Völler and Simon Rolfes to the Casa de Cuna (in English: orphanage): In the inner courtyard of the school, between two football nets, colourful toy houses and slides, José Antonio de Nuñes Vera spoke to express his gratitude for the support from Germany with tears in his eyes. The 77-year-old is not only the president of the orphanage at Querétaro but he also looks after the health of the children in his role as a paediatric doctor.

start during the 1986 world cup

Völler has been an ambassador for the Egidius Braun Foundation for decades. The now 62-year-old first visited the orphanage in 1986 when he was playing for Germany. Just before the start of the World Cup, a small delegation from the German Football Association (DFB) came to Querétaro during the World Cup finals in Mexico. Alongside Völler were the then head of delegation Egidius Braun, coach Franz Beckenbauer and goalkeeper Toni Schumacher. “Of course, images from that time come to mind here. Back then we saw that a lot of help was needed here and we wanted to get involved,” said Völler immediately after arriving at the orphanage. “So, it’s all the better to see what’s happened here in the last 36 years. I’m very moved by the work here and I’d like to thank the people who have done so much for the well-being of the children beyond this place.”

The departing sporting managing director at the Werkself met up with one or two people from 1986 during his two-hour visit – that included the former general consul Christoph Bauer who received the small Bayer 04 delegation with open arms like everybody else present.

Presents for the children

Völler and Rolfes presented the management of the orphanage with a cheque from Bayer 04 in the sum of €10,000. Sporting director Rolfes, who like Völler is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Egidius Braun Foundation: “You can see with everybody here that there is immense gratitude for the support. Of course, I will do everything I can over the coming years with my colleagues to carry on the work Rudi has done over all these years with great commitment and passion.”

Following on from the official part of the visit, the Leverkusen sporting management presented small Brian the Lion cuddly toys to the 40 children. On top of that, Völler and Rolfes donated a football table in Bayer 04 colours, which the kids tested out immediately.

Tour of the orphanage

The Bayer 04 delegation were then given a tour of the orphanage that is divided into education and living areas. Völler and Rolfes met a small girl on the arm of one of the caring members of staff at the orphanage in the dormitory. The child had only arrived two days ago but she will have a caring home in the future at the orphanage in Querétaro – also due to the long-standing support of people like Egidius Braun and Rudi Völler…

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