Press appointment at the start of the season for soccer field heroes © Olaf Staschik
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Klaus Allofs as the new patron
After the end of many corona restrictions this year, the “Bolzplatzhelden” project of the Düsseldorf Citizens’ Foundation is finally going into another round on schedule, into its tenth season.
With this project, the community foundation not only wants to encourage boys and girls between the ages of six and 16 to exercise more and improve their physical fitness, but also give them the opportunity to learn and develop values such as fairness, consideration, social behavior and team spirit in a playful way experience. The training is still carried out and supported by former Fortuna soccer professionals and many volunteer coaches. “The free offer is aimed in particular at boys and girls who have not previously been involved in any sports club,” explains project manager Heribert Eisenburger. Here, the community foundation would like to build a bridge over which the children and young people can find access to an association. According to Eisenburger, all boys and girls are welcome, regardless of their origin or religious affiliation.
Just in time for the start of the season, the community foundation is very pleased that Klaus Allofs could be won as a new patron. “The fact that we at Fortuna have been supporting this project intensively for such a long time makes me very proud. Because this commitment shows impressively the power of football and volunteering. The values of team spirit and fair play are conveyed through our sport and are important guiding principles for children and young people for their whole lives,” says the sports director at Fortuna Düsseldorf. In addition, ex-Fortuna captain Oliver Fink will continue to accompany the “Bolzplatzhelden” as an ambassador.
And the provincial insurance company remains on board as one of the main sponsors with a sum of 4,000 euros. “Children suffered greatly from a lack of exercise during the corona pandemic. We are all the more pleased that the ‘Bolzplatzhelden’ are now starting again after a two-year break, because football not only stands for the joy of exercise, but also for social interaction and community and is a great sporting attraction for all age groups. Provincial Versicherung is supporting the ‘Bolzplatzhelden’ project for the tenth time and is also involved in youth football sponsorship – and not just at the Düsseldorf location,” says Gabi Wrede, external communications officer at Provincial Versicherung.
The German Postcode Lottery will also continue to support this important project and will once again sponsor the “Bolzplatzhelden” with a total of 25,000 euros. “Children discover the world through movement. It is the basis for age-appropriate and healthy development. For the rest, children do not think and act in categories or prejudices. Sport in particular not only has a positive effect on your health, it also has a connecting and integrative effect. We are therefore very happy to support the Düsseldorf Citizens’ Foundation and the ‘Bolzplatzhelden’ with 25,000 euros. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our participants who made this funding possible, because only together can we make the world a better place,” says Robert Engel, Managing Director of Deutsche Postcode Lotterie.
“After two years of corona-related restrictions, we are now very happy to be able to open our open air season of the football field heroes with a small event on April 1st. During this difficult time, our partners in particular, the Deutsche Postcode Lotterie and the provincial insurance, gave us their unlimited financial support, so that we were able to offer the children our full range of services. We are very grateful for that,” says Heribert Eisenburger happily. According to the project manager, this has also led to the offer being expanded and possibly another football pitch being added.
Interested parties can find the current training times on the website as well as on Facebook and Instagram.
Text: Beate Werthschulte
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