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

Women - 05.07.2026

Women: Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman leaves Bayer 04

Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.

Youth - 05.07.2026

U19 European Championship in Wales: Culbreath and Onyeka sit out Spain clash – semi up next

At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.

Bayer 04 - 04.07.2026

World Cup blog: Palacios, Grimaldo, Quansah and Tillman through to Round of 16

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.

Leistungstests und erste Trainings: Wie die Bayer 04-Frauen mit ihren Neuzugängen in die Vorbereitung starten

Werkself-TV - 02.07.2026

Diagnostics and training: Bayer 04 Women with new faces start pre-season

At the end of June, Bayer 04 became the first team in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga to begin their pre-season preparations. As well as training sessions at the Kurtekotten facility, the players under coach Roberto Pätzold completed the customary series of performance diagnostics. Werkself-TV presents exclusive insights and player interviews from the first few days after the summer break.