Just a few hours after the Werkself friendly against Deportivo Toluca (0-1), Julian Baumgartlinger, Lennart Grill and Co. are already back on their feet. Part of the Bayer 04 tour group has registered for a hot-air balloon flight over the pyramids of Teotihuacán.
Having arrived at the destination, there was first a short coffee break while the hot-air balloons were prepared – two of them allocated to the visitors from Leverkusen in Black and Red.
At seven in the morning on the dot, the first group including sporting director Simon Rolfes and honorary captain Stefan Kießling gathered around the balloon and watched the final preparations before climbing into the basket.
For Rolfes it was his second flight in a hot-air balloon. The 40-year-old just before ascending into the air: “I did it back home in Münsterland when I was 13 or 14 years old. Of course, the pyramids here are completely different. I’m really looking forward to it!”
Once up in the air there was no end to the amazement for the travellers: The so-called pyramids of the sun, which the hot-air balloon was flying over, are the third biggest in the world with a diameter of 225 x 225 metres and a height of 63 metres; the neighbouring pyramids of the moon are the fourth biggest. They are sited in the centre of the ruined Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacán, some 45 kilometres north-east of Mexico City.
In between the many photos and videos taken, Rolfes and Kießling discovered one of the local football pitches below them - a new perspective for the former long-serving Bundesliga players from a height of 300 metres.
To the amazement of everybody, the Bayer 04 balloon finally descended to a field surrounded by cactuses exactly next to a trailer – and they were brought back on it to base and then to the team bus. A successful hot-air balloon trip in the air and on the ground.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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