Illustrious player Matthäus pays visit to Safe-Hubs

The most coveted German soccer player, Lothar Matthäus, has partnered with the Bundesliga and StarTimes to tour the country and share some of his ideas with the soccer fraternity.

Matthäus will join three official academy coaches from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and SV Werder Bremen for the workshop. It will be held from March 2 to 6 in the AMANDLA Safe-Hub in Diespsloot, where the coaches will exchange knowledge and help enhance youth development in South Africa.

“South Africa has the potential to produce some of the best football players who can be utilised in European clubs,” said Matthäus,

“They must just believe in themselves and have a governing body that supports them all the way.

“It is better to do that than to talk all the time as that is when you focus on yourself and decide how you want to play football.”

Matthäus captained the West German team that won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 and was named the European Footballer of the Year. In 1991 he was the first to receive the FIFA World Player of the Year and is the only German to date to receive this award.

He has a record of 464 Bundesliga games.

Many accolades followed thereafter.

He is the most capped German player of all time, with a total of 150 appearances – 83 for West Germany – and scored 23 goals in the 20 years for his country.

As a midfielder he said, “One has to do more on the field of play as a midfielder, but apart for that it is important to train well with the team and afterwards improve on yourself and up your fitness level all the time.”

Joining Matthäus was former Bafana Bafana player Sibusiso “Rhee” Zuma, who played in the Bundesliga, in his playing days.

Both players joined the Bundesliga Experience, which will include a Coach the Coach Workshop hosted by Bundesliga partner AMANDLA, an international social enterprise which runs football-based education centres called Safe-Hubs.

Local fans will have the chance to meet Matthäus at a meet-and greet-at the Firs shopping centre in Rosebank.

This will be followed by a Fan Fest at Balfour Mall in Johannesburg on March 7, giving South African football enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the thrill of the current Bundesliga season as league contenders Borussia Mönchengladbach take on Borussia Dortmund.

Along with the screening, there will be other great activities, such as a soccer youth tournaments, fan activations and a celebrity match.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences of the greatest league in the world with South African fans.

“They really appreciate pure, authentic football, exactly what the Bundesliga provides week in, week out; “Football as It’s Meant to Be”. Germany has been graced by several iconic South African players over the years such, as Delron Buckley, Sibusiso Zuma and Sean Dundee. I hope that during my time in the country I can help inspire the next generation of African stars to take the next steps towards the Bundesliga.”

StarTimes South Africa CEO John Yan said, “It’s a great pleasure for StarTimes to be part of the Bundesliga Legends Tour! As the Bundesliga’s exclusive broadcaster in sub-Saharan Africa, StarTimes airs all Bundesliga matches live, offering football fans a truly unique viewing experience.

“We are thrilled to have Lothar Matthäus joining us in South Africa and sharing the Bundesliga experience in person. He is a real legend of football and a model for fans and players, who can truly represent Football as It’s Meant to Be.

“We really appreciate this opportunity to have fans together and interact with him during this event.”

The Bundesliga Experience in Johannesburg follows a Bundesliga Legends Tour with Jay-Jay Okocha in the country in 2018, as well as a visit from Bundesliga club Werder Bremen to South Africa for a training camp, friendly matches and other social activities that same year.