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.
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
Show more
New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
Show more
Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
Show more
Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
Show more
