
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.
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).

The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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After back-to-back wins at home, Bayer 04 are now out for their first away win of 2026 as they visit Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (15:30 CET). Ahead of the Matchday 20 fixture in the Bundesliga, Kasper Hjulmand spoke about renewed confidence, Frankfurt’s recent issues and Patrik Schick’s form so far this year.
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Eintracht Frankfurt are yet to win a game in 2026 and have managed only one victory in their last 12 competitive fixtures. Having already been eliminated from the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League, the Eagles are now focusing solely on the Bundesliga as they seek to get their season back on track with the visit of the Werkself on Saturday afternoon. Here’s the lowdown on our next opponents…
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