For this Werkself fan, his position at his favourite club represents a dream come true. "I'm very much looking forward to representing Bayer 04 in the future as the first #B04eSports talent," Said Degner who will primarily start on PlayStation for Bayer 04 and he is due to become an established member of the squad for the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL) from the autumn of 2021.
As part of a comprehensive scholarship, the talented teenager will spend a year at the sports college in Leverkusen, also attended by football players like Kai Havertz, and he will be the first student at the #B04eSports Academy. The training at the eAcademy will be provided in partnership with TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and ensure through daily training the continual development of playing ability as well as work on tactics but also in PR activity as well as the areas of nutrition and fitness. On top of that, the student will also complete his Abitur exams at the Landrat Lucas Grammar School.
Degner impressed the management of the Bayer 04 eSports department in the several months of the selection process not only on the console but also with his soft skills such as dealing with social media. "In Paul we have found a very talented first rookie for our eAcademy who has many qualities for a successful FIFA career on the console," declared Florian Dederichs, head of internationalisation and eSports at Bayer 04. “The holistic approach of academic support and continual development of talent at the eAcademy is a unique project in Germany. Therefore, we are even happier to have found a talent from our region in Paul, which fits in perfectly with this concept."
Steffi Nerius, head of the Leverkusen sports college, added: "The Leverkusen sports college offers young competitive athletes the ideal opportunity to combine school and sport. We are looking forward to being able to look after Paul as the first sports college student at the #B04eSports Academy. In future, he will join 50 athletes from eight different types of sport and train and learn with them. It's a very exciting step for TSV Bayer 04 e.V. in partnership with the Bayer 04eSports Academy. We are happy to be the pioneers in this project."
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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.
Show more
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!
Show more
