He still hasn’t lost his ambition. At 77, Eduard Geyer drives a team of Wittenberg entrepreneurs and city councilors as if it were about beating Bayern Munich again with Energie Cottbus. Again and again he interrupts the training and calls in between. “What should your grandchildren think of you?” can be heard at his first session. Geyer counts the ball contacts out loud “Six, seven, eight. That’s not enough. I want to see ten. Keep going.”
At the end of June, the Wittenberg selection will meet the Holy Father’s selection in a charity match in Rome. No one wants to make a fool of themselves, which is why the successful Cottbus coach was hired. Karl Heinz Röthel, who has been in charge of the Wittenberg team for several years, came up with the idea. The Vatican selection has now been met twice. In June it will be the third time. But then with Geyer on the sidelines. “It is an honor to work with such a man who has achieved everything,” Röthel told MDR.
Geyer is mild in age but ambitious
The 77-year-old from Dresden was the last selection coach in the GDR. Geyer led Energie Cottbus from the third division into the Bundesliga. And he also celebrated great successes as a player with Dynamo Dresden. So when “Ede Merciless” makes an announcement, everyone stands at attention. Although Geyer has meanwhile become mild in age and also verbally caresses his protégés in the sweaty training sessions. “Your women will enjoy you,” Geyer shows his humorous side in front of the television camera that accompanies him to his first training session.
The average age of his team is 47. So far, his protégés have mostly only played football in their free time. The coach who is used to success must first lay the foundations. Even if it’s only once a week. “They are all capable of learning. And they already know a few things quite well. But they will also learn something from me,” laughs Geyer and adds: “For life too.”
Does “Ede” get the blessing of the Pope?
There’s still a little time until June 25th, when the big game against the Vatican selection is coming up. And maybe the Holy Father will stop by at the game within sight of St. Peter’s Basilica. Eduard Geyer would be happy and would have one wish. “I’ll ask the Pope to bless me,” says the 77-year-old, laughing and concentrating on training again. Because he still hasn’t lost his ambition. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s football or Halma: In the end it should be fun and we want it. And if you don’t want that, you’re in the wrong place with us.”
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, May 8th, 2022, 2:15 p.m
Source: rbb