13.04.2022U17

U17s play team from Kyiv – invitation to Leipzig game

They regularly played together in Ukraine as a Kyiv team but a few weeks ago they were forced to flee their country due to the Russian war of aggression – and the team all fled to Germany. The total of 28 youth players born in 2005 and 2006 have now landed up at the Sportschule Hennef where they are living and training. Tomorrow, Thursday 14 April, they will play a friendly against the Bayer 04 U17 team (kick-off: 11.00 CEST). In addition, Bayer 04 have invited the youngsters to the Bundesliga home match against RB Leipzig.

Crucial in implementing this act of support for youth footballers was the close contact between Stefan Rönz, a member of the coaching teaching staff at the Middle Rhine Football Association, and Dynamo Kyiv – in particular with Wladimir Zharikow, the director of the youth academy at the top-flight Ukrainian club. "Wladimir asked me to look after the lads a few weeks ago," explained Rönz.

On the initiative of the 50-year-old, the young Ukrainians, whose families have mostly stayed in the Ukraine capital Kyiv and are thereby in the war zone, plus two of the mothers are now staying at the Sportschule Hennef. They train there daily and have already played games against clubs from the surrounding region.

team at Bundesliga game against Leipzig

The Ukrainian youth footballers will be guests in Leverkusen three days after the game against the Leverkusen U17 team at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre: Bayer 04 have invited the team to the Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig on Easter Sunday 17 April (kick-off: 19.30 CEST).

Related News

Bayer 04 - 10.11.2025

Ibrahim Maza honoured as best Algerian young player

Bayer 04 midfielder Ibrahim Maza was honoured in Paris in the Best Algerian Young Player category at the Fennec d'Or awards for the Algerian Footballer of the Year, organised for the first time by the football journal La Gazette du Fennec. "It's an honour for me," said the 19-year-old, delighted with the award.

Women - 09.11.2025

'Work the momentum in our favour': Women travel to Freiburg

On the back of two wins within four days, Bayer 04 Women round off an intensive Bundesliga week in the Black Forest. Roberto Pätzold's side have the chance to move back up to third place against SC Freiburg in the final fixture of Matchday 10 on Monday (18:00 CET) and draw level on points with second-placed VfL Wolfsburg.

Bayer 04 - 09.11.2025

Internationals: Nine Werkself players called up by their countries

The last international break of this calendar year features the final qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. An overview of who's playing where and when from a Leverkusen point of view.

Bundesliga - 09.11.2025

Werkself Review #B04FCH: Going into international break with 'good feeling'

Never before have Bayer 04 led 4-0 so early in the Bundesliga, never before have they won a Bundesliga home match by a higher margin. Leverkusen's exhibition display against 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 produced many stories, records and debuts. While Kasper Hjulmand's side celebrated the rousing performance properly with the fans, Jonas Hofmann and Co aren't losing focus: "We have to be careful that we don't just praise ourselves. The games come thick and fast again after the international break." The Werkself Review has all the reaction and analysis of the 6-0 victory at the BayArena.