Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock on the playing field at the Zell am See commercial college. 'Train like the pros’ is on a black and red banner at the entrance. There is plenty of action on the pitch with the first drills already underway. There are 22 children at this year’s fifth Soccer School summer camp in Salzburger Land. Seven of them are from the local region and the capital Vienna with the other kids having travelled from Leverkusen to the Alps last weekend accompanied by five coaches.
The Black and Red youngsters train twice a day from Monday to Friday. In between the sessions, they either visit the Werkself training sessions or go to the lido on Zeller See, which is a few minutes walk away from the commercial college. The kids can try out stand-up paddle boarding. And there is plenty to do in the evenings too: From a foam party at the accommodation, the Club Kitzsteinhorn youth hostel, through to visiting the Gorgeous Lights event.
Another highlight at the training camp: Watching Lukas Hradecky and Co. play top-flight Italian club Udinese in Thursday's friendly at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See. They have already had a group photo with the whole squad.
The passing and shooting drills certainly put the kids at the Soccer School through their paces in the summer temperatures of over 30 degrees in Salzburger Land. But that doesn't bother Ida from Leichlingen: "I like the training sessions best. When we finish we usually go to the lake. A chance to cool off," said the 12-year-old who is taking part in the camp with her two-years younger brother Leif. Everybody heads home on Saturday after five days of training.
The Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta is set to join Hull City on permanent terms from 1 July. Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Championship club originally agreed a season-long loan in the summer with an option to buy included in the contract. A permanent move to Hull City has been triggered by the number of league appearances Puerta has made this term.
Show moreFC St. Pauli are on course to achieve their target for the season. The win away to Holstein Kiel last weekend saw the newcomers from the Hanseatic city take a big step forward in terms of staying up. This Easter Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST), the team currently fifteenth in the Bundesliga entertain the Werkself at the Millerntor. And they will have to manage without their captain Jackson Irvine for the first time this season. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 30. The game is on Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Millerntor Stadium…
Show moreThe Easter holidays enticed a large number of Bayer 04 fans to come to the training ground at the BayArena, today Wednesday 16 April, to watch the Werkself at an open training session in the afternoon. Afterwards, the players and head coach Xabi Alonso took time out to sign autographs and pose for photographs. And there was a lot going on besides: While midfield maestro Granit Xhaka fielded questions at an entertaining children's press conference, including the story behind his squad number 34, Nathan Tella faced the media.
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