By Mirko Frank and Ulrich Bauer
Football Germany was shocked by this act.
At an international tournament in Frankfurt, a 15-year-old from the Youth Football Club Berlin eV (JFC) was seriously injured in a fight after the game against FC Metz at the end of May. A 16-year-old Frenchman is said to have hit the Berlin boy in the head and neck. He eventually succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Almost four months later, Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart (51) trained the team of the beating victim and experienced an emotional visit to his hometown of Berlin.
Steffen Baumgart’s autographs were of course very popular Photo: Ottmar Winter
How did that happen? Pure random!
► Weeks ago, Baumgart and his partner “Camp David” raffled off a training session. Winner: JFC Berlin of all places!
The Berlin talents trained under Baumgart’s supervision Photo: Ottmar Winter
“I only found out later that this was the team of the deceased boy,” said Baumgart, “an unbelievable tragedy that happened there. I watched it with horror at the time. No one should be personally or physically attacked during sport. No matter whether in the Bundesliga or with the kids!”
Baumgart, who has his main residence in Berlin-Köpenick, completed a training session with the young footballers and then took a lot of time for conversations, autographs and selfies. “I really enjoy training with children and young footballers. I even did that on the side as a professional back then. We’ve all started and know how hard the road to the top is. But fun should always come first.”
And the kids definitely had that with him!