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.
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.
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.
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…
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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