‘Want to be a role model for young people in Burkina Faso’ - African journalists meet Tapsoba and Rolfes

The media representatives travelled to the event entered the BayArena with great anticipation. In their welcoming address, Holger Tromp, Director of Communications at Bayer 04 and responsible for Internationalisation, and Tobias Schmidt, Head of Internationalisation, emphasised the influence of African players on the success of the Werkself and expressed their appreciation of the exchange with the guests.

Rolfes: "the cultural mix is a great advantage"

"You can feel the positive connection between Bayer 04 and Africa here," said Simon Rolfes, Managing Director Sport at Bayer 04, and welcomed the enthusiastic group to the first discussion of the day: "We have and have had many important players from Africa, and, Edmond Tapsoba is one of them." Rolfes sees him as an extremely important part of the team, thanks in part to his "great personality": "He has developed into a leader since joining Bayer 04 and maintains a close relationship with the fans and everyone here at the club."

The journalists asked questions about the Bundesliga title and DFB Pokal double in 2023/24, the squad changes last summer and the scouting of young players - with a focus on African players. Having them in the team is important to Rolfes: "The cultural mix in our team is a great advantage and something that sets us apart. The team can utilise the different strengths and character traits of the players and benefit from the fact that they complement each other and develop into better players."

Tapsoba: "i really wanted to come to Leverkusen"

Fernando Carro, the Bayer 04 CEO, also paid a brief visit to the group and Tapsoba was then greeted with loud applause in the Premium Lounge at the BayArena. When asked if he was the biggest Burkinabe player, the 27-year-old replied with a laugh: "In terms of height, maybe." In a relaxed atmosphere, the centre-back spoke eloquently in English, French and Portuguese about his start at Leverkusen and his wishes for his home country and also emphasised the strengths of African players in the team structure.

"When Simon spoke to me about the project and the club in Portugal at the start of 2020 before my move, I really wanted to come to Leverkusen," explained Tapsoba, adding with a smile: "It's now been six happy years here, and Germany may even have become my second favourite country." His African homeland is his top priority, however, and he also wants to "be a role model for young people in Burkina Faso. I want to show them they can achieve what I’ve achieved if they fight for it." He is also always happy to see more Africans in his own team: "They always have fire. I think every team could do with an African or two in the dressing room." Tapsoba's opinion met with a positive response from the audience. After he fulfilled all the autograph and photo requests, the delegation set off on a tour of the BayArena.

Tapsoba at home – exclusive Documentary out in April

A Bayer 04 delegation travelled to Burkina Faso with Tapsoba at the end of March. In the capital Ouagadougou, the Werkself player shared special insights into his youth and his footballing beginnings and roots as well as the culture in his home country for a documentary. "The visit meant a lot to me," said Tapsoba during the media round table. "It was really nice to be able to tell my story, show my home country and my culture." Bayer 04 fans can look forward to the exclusive documentary, which will be shown on Werkself TV and YouTube, at the end of April.

In the documentary, Tapsoba returns to the football pitch of his childhood, to his first club and enthusiastically presents the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba". The cultural highlight of the trip to Burkina Faso was an audience with Mogho Naba, the king of the Mossi people and one of the country's most influential personalities.