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When Martin Schäfer, Germany’s ambassador to South Africa, invited Bundesliga football team Werder Bremen to his Waterkloof residence in Pretoria, there was absolutely no talk about politics.
Fun and networking were the order of the day.
The event, hosted by renowned South African sports commentator Duane Dell’Oca, was attended by prominent Germans living in Mzansi and those who have stayed and played for Bundesliga teams.
Former Orlando Pirates legend Sibusiso “Rhee” Zuma and ex-Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Rowen Fernández were two of them. They both had a stint with the club Arminia Bielefeld under Kaizer Chiefs’ current coach Ernst Middendorp.
Middendorp was also in attendance but left the event early. This was after Dell’Oca entertained the audience with a story about how Middendorp wouldn’t want to be reminded of his coaching stint at Bielefeld where he didn’t last long, his results were so bad. Any awkwardness was saved by the fact that most people didn’t notice him leave.
Also there were Werder Bremen team staff, including managing director and president Dr Hubertus Hess-Grunewald and chief executive Frank Baumann, who also enjoyed the evening in the luxurious Pretoria suburb.
The soirée was held outside the ambassador’s residence and it did rain, but thankfully not for too long.
Schäfer said he had to love the team because of where in Germany he comes from.
“This is a big moment for me because I was born Bremen.
“I’ve never thought as a little boy taking autographs of the big players of my time – which is approximately 40 years ago – that at the house that I would live in, there would be those big Ws,” he said, pointing at the club logos emblazoned on the green flags that adorned the walls.
“This is the event that I am happy to co-host. Let us make Werder Bremen feel at home here in South Africa.”
Schäfer ended his brief speech by saying that in Africa everything was big, “not just the animals but the traffic jams and thunderstorms”.
Beck’s was the only beer served, along with wines and soft drinks. The team did not only play Chiefs and Bidvest Wits during their stay in South Africa but also visited charities around Johannesburg, including Safe-Hub in Diepsloot, where children who have emotional and physical difficulties go to for a safe environment to play in.
