‘The standard is getting higher and higher: Junior Talent Day at Kurtekotten with 90 girls

Ten coaches from the Bayer 04 girls’ youth section led the young players. A total of 140 applications were received from across the region. For the first time, the registration process had to be closed early as the number of participants was limited. “The high number of applications reflects what we have achieved in the girls’ and women’s sections at Bayer 04 over the past few years,” said Heiko Pöhlandt, girls’ scout and organiser of the Talent Day: “At the same time, this is also down to the general rise in enthusiasm for girls’ football.”

Full of enthusiasm, the young players took on the sporting challenges across a total of four pitches at the Kurtekotten training ground. While the younger children were actively engaged in competitions and technical obstacle courses in a playful manner, the older age groups tried their hand at various forms of the game. “We had a brilliant atmosphere,” said Pöhlandt: “A big thank you goes to the coaches and assistants who helped organise the day.”

Feifel: "a thoroughly successful day"

The sporting director of the Bayer 04 women’s team also came along to see the trial session for himself. “We’re delighted there’s such a high level of interest in the Talent Day and that so many girls want to play for Bayer 04,” said Achim Feifel: “It was a thoroughly successful day; the weather was brilliant too, and it was great fun to watch the enthusiasm of the young players taking part. The standard of play is also getting higher and higher.”

The next Talent Day is expected to take place in spring of 2027. In the meantime, all 90 children will receive feedback within the next two weeks. “We expect to invite around a third of the participants back for a training session with the talent pool, to enable a more detailed assessment,” said Pöhlandt.