Professionals against amateurs: 33 players from 12 Leverkusen clubs compete with Bayer 04 Bundesliga players for a good cause. Weekend after weekend, they face each other across the city in the battle for points. Now they are united against the Werkself. Dirk Dreher, general manager of the Veterans team at the Werkself, has put the team together in discussion with the coaches of the different clubs.
As a player, he was promoted to the Bundesliga with the Werkself in 1979 and, after ending his playing career, he was a member of the coaching staff at Bayer 04 for decades: Club legend Peter Hermann will coach the city team along with his ‘assistant’ Stefan Mueller (SV Schlebusch). In an interview with bayer04.de, the 69-year-old talks about his great motivation to take on this challenge on Wednesday night.
Peter, the charity match between the Werkself and the Leverkusen city team is happening in a few days. You'll be there looking after the city eleven. How did that come about?
Hermann: Bayer 04 asked me if I wanted to take part. Of course, I said yes straight away when the request came. I see this event as a very good thing and I also know a lot of people who unfortunately were and are affected directly by the flooding in the summer.
Your squad is made up of a total of 33 amateur players from different clubs in Leverkusen. How was the squad put together?
Hermann: Dirk Dreher mainly looked after that as he has good contact with the coaches and management of the clubs in Leverkusen. But we have been in close contact with each other for several weeks and we will prepare the lads the game as best as we can.
What can the players for the city team expect on Wednesday?
Hermann: As officials we will meet them in good time, get to know each other and have a calm chat. The lads can get changed in the away dressing room at the BayArena where Bundesliga stars normally prepare for matches. But the most important thing on the night will be that everybody involved really enjoys the game and that we end up with a big donation.
These players face the Werkself: Tim Breddemann, Marcel Schulz, Mustafa Uzun, Christoph Geschonnek, David Görgens (all SV Schlebusch), Patrick Paffrath, Kevin Luginger, Aristote Mambasa (all FC Leverkusen), Yasin Yüksel, Elfat Siani, Sefa Ocakli (all Genclerbirligi Opladen), Frederik Kosegarten, Simon Wirtz, Michael Mollek (all BV Bergisch Neukirchen), Christoph Beilmann, Rene Rekus, Lukas Riedel (all SV Bergfried Leverkusen), Daniel Fischermann, Bastian Prensema, Julian Kwoczalla (all SC Hitdorf), Nicola Morano, Filippo Ciulla, Adriano Amico (all SC Leverkusen), Enrico Albanese, Marcel Maier (both SSV Lützenkirchen), Cedric Engelen, Wissam Arabi (both ESV SW Opladen), Daniele Piras, Basti Labusga (both Roland Bürrig), Nico Schell, Fabio Arnone (both SSV Alkenrath), Matthias Senn, Fabian Krzyscin (both TuS Quettingen).
The team behind the team: Dirk Dreher (general manager), Peter Hermann (coach), Stefan Müller (assistant coach/SV Schlebusch), Frank Linde (support), Christian Hausmann (support).
The match will be divided into thirds. During the first break in the game, there will be the obligatory presentation of a cheque. This will be performed by the Bayer 04 managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler along with Meinolf Sprink, fan and community director. On behalf of the City of Leverkusen, the mayor Uwe Richrath and and city manager Marc Adomat will be at the match along with Manuel Bast, the director of the Leverkusen Community Foundation.
The city players will wear a kit developed especially for this match in the city colours of green and white provided by TIPWIN as the shirt partner for the night. Bayer Gastro will look after the catering requirements on the night..
Anybody unable to make the match who wants to support the victims of the flood disaster in Leverkusen and surrounding areas can make a donation to the following account of the Leverkusen Community Foundation:
Leverkusen hilft: Spendenkonto
DE40 3755 1440 0100 1262 26
Do you want to be at the charity match? Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online ticket shop HERE. Tickets cost five euros. Here's to a successful night.
Edmond Tapsoba has signed an early extension to his contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With two years left on his current deal, the 27-year-old Burkina Faso international has extended his contract until 30 June 2031. The centre-back joined as a young talent from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes at the start of 2020.
Show more
A special surprise: during the preview for the 'Fierté Burkinabè' documentary about Edmond Tapsoba, Bayer 04 directors Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes announced Tapsoba's contract extension until 2031 together with the centre-back. He then spoke to Werkself-TV about his time in Leverkusen so far and future ambitions...
Show more
This evening was deeply moving: At a really special setting, Bayer 04 exclusively presented the specially produced documentary ‘Fierté Burkinabè’ ("Burkinabe Pride") about Edmond Tapsoba on Tuesday. For the preview at the BayArena, the parents of the Werkself player and other close companions travelled all the way from his African homeland Burkina Faso. The 45-minute film shows Tapsoba's extraordinary career from his beginnings in Ouagadougou to Leverkusen as well as the work of his foundation "Fondation Edmond Tapsoba", with representatives from Burkina Faso also present. Fans can watch the documentary free of charge on Werkself TV and YouTube from Wednesday night at 20:00 CEST.
Show more
Bayer 04 have signed left-back Carolin Simon from champions Bayern Munich for the coming season. The 33-year-old former Germany international, who played for Leverkusen from 2013 to 2016, has signed a contract to 30 June 2028.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women have strengthened for the coming season with the signing of Lobke Loone. The 23-year-old Dutch striker joins from Utrecht on a contract until 30 June 2028.
Show more
