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.
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
Show more
For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
Show more
European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
Show more
The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
Show more
Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
Show more
