Back
28.07.2021Veterans

Veterans: Successful benefit match in Neitersen

On Tuesday night, a large number of big names from Bayer 04's club history came together for an important reason on and off the pitch in a small community in the Rhineland Palatinate district of Altenkirchen. The Old Boys team of Wiedbachtaler Sportfreunde Neitersen staged a benefit match in support of flood victims.
crop_Traditionsmannschaft_Benefizspiel.jpg
Vor dem Spiel kamen einige Bayer 04-Vertreter mit den Verantwortlichen von Neitersen zusammen: Falko Götz (5.v.l.), Manager Dirk Dreher (6.v.l.), Rüdiger Vollborn (4.v.r.), Ulf Kirsten (3.v.r.), Jens Nowotny (2.v.r.) und Hanno Balitsch (r.). Der ehemalige Werkself-Spieler Lars Leese (7.v.l.) spielte in der Vergangenheit für Neitersen und ist heute wieder für den Klub am Ball.

The match at the 'Auf der Emma' sports ground in Neitersen not only provided sporting highlights but also something much more important: A considerable financial donation that will benefit people affected by the flood disaster in the Rhineland Palatinate thanks to the 'Fußball hilft' foundation of the Rhineland Football Association.

Before kick-off in front of around 500 spectators, those present paid respect with a minute’s silence to the victims of the floods as well as the explosion at a hazardous waste incineration plant in Leverkusen on Tuesday morning.

praise for own and opposing Team

The Bayer 04 side on this special day included former players Jens Nowotny, Falko Götz and Hanno Balitsch. Watching on from the sidelines were former Leverkusen players including Rüdiger Vollborn, Ulf Kirsten and Matthias Brücken.

Nenad Lazarevic put the Veterans team in front but the Sportfreunde level before half-time. In the second half, goals from Hanno Balitsch and Assimiou Toure secured the final score of 3-1. "The lads did well and produced a performance just like our hosts," declared Dick Dreher, general manager of the Bayer 04 Veterans team. "It was much more important for us on this evening that a decent donation was raised."

Bayer 04 group in Neitersen:

Players: Daniel Galic (goalkeeper), Nenad Lazarevic, Assimiou Toure, Carsten Baumann, Jens Nowotny, Ferhat Kiskanc, Michael Wagner, Falko Götz, Zülfi Simsek, Thorsten Judt, Danny Thönes, Christoph Chylla, Hanno Balitsch, Roman Klossek, Konrad Czarnetzki

Officials: Dirk Dreher (general manager), Gerhard Kentschke, Jürgen Gelsdorf (coaches), Christian Hausmann (assistant coach), Heinz Pier, Wilfried Krudewig, Olli Collette, Helmut Becker (all support staff)

Guests: Ulf Kirsten, Thorsten Wörsdörfer, Matthias Brücken, Wilfried Gässler, Peter Surbach, Rüdiger Vollborn, Walter Posner, Manfred Vetter, Jörg Volkmar

Related News

Begegnungslogo
Bundesliga - 14.10.2025

Tickets for the home game against Heidenheim

The Werkself host 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at the BayArena on matchday 10 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on 8 November at 15:30 CET and is a Members matchday. Information on ticket sales.

Show more
Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga - 14.10.2025

Tickets for the home game against Borussia Dortmund

The Werkself host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena on matchday 12 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 29 November, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.

Show more
Jubel der Werkself
Women - 12.10.2025

Bender and Fudalla score in 2-0 win at TSG Hoffenheim

One week after the derby was abandoned, the Werkself continue their winning run in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team won 2-0 at TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, mainly thanks to a strong second half, to record their fifth consecutive victory. Loreen Bender (75’) and Vanessa Fudalla (82’) scored for Bayer 04 at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium and Leverkusen now have twelve points from five games.

Show more
Alejo Sarco gegen Mexiko
Bayer 04 - 12.10.2025

U20 World Cup: Argentina and Sarco through to semi-finals

Argentina’s success at the U20 World Cup in Chile continues. The junior Albiceleste, with Bayer 04 player Alejo Sarco in the starting XI, beat Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Sunday night. Colombia, who knocked out Spain, now await in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

Show more
Spielabbruch im Derby
Women - 11.10.2025

Bayer 04 Women: Derby to be replayed on Thursday

The abandoned Bundesliga derby between the Bayer 04 Women and FC Köln has been rescheduled for Thursday, 16 October with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. This was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Saturday following a decision by the DFB Sports Tribunal. The match at the Franz Kremer Stadium on Sunday 5 October was abandoned with the score at 1-0 to the hosts due to floodlight failure.

Show more