MARGAO
The Germany team participating in the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup got involved in an outreach programme for the marginalised girls from across different States in India, who came to Goa to take part in the Legacy Cup.
Hundred-odd under-16 players met with three Germany players and a few officials and had interaction with them. The outreach programme has helped the German team to develop a stronger relationship with their fans as they handed over to them quite a few memorabilia items. The team members who interacted with the marginalised girls included goalkeeper Boettcher Eve, defender Annaleen Boehler and Hannah Etzold. Among the support staff who visited the children were officials Arne Janssen, Patrick Reifenscheidt, Hannes Rieger, Johanna Pierags, the team manager, and Paula, the psychologist of the team.
The German team with seven members that visited the SVD ground in Raia danced alongside the participants of the Legacy Cup all-India inter academy football tournament. “It was a pleasant surprise to have the Germany team with us in the middle of their World Cup engagement,” Kennedy Dsilva, director of the Karuna Football Foundation, which organised the tournament, said.
“They even came to meet us at the stadium closer to where we were sitting in the match against New Zealand and therefore our girls have now become die-hard Germany fans," Kennedy said as he informed that the German football association posted videos and images of the team's visit on its social media accounts. “It's massive for us. We are building up a relationship,” said Kennedy.
"The players at the Legacy Cup all below the age of 16 and drawn from underprivileged communities, had lessons to learn too. Goalkeeper Boettcher Eve, in particular, spoke to the youngsters and explained why it's important to focus on the goals, rather than the tribulations. 'Just have fun and don’t think about the competition', Boettcher told the players. 'If you want to achieve your stay focused. Sport is a great tool, and as sportspersons, we can bring peace', she said."
Kennedy along with Heidi Scheunemann, the German technical advisor of the foundation, is already preparing for being at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai to be the supporters of the German team for whom they are praying to overcome the challenge of the Spanish team that overcame the Japanese team in the last quarterfinal match played at Fatorda.
