Schalke Coaches Enjoy Southern Hospitality in Atlanta

Before hitting the pitch, the coaches and Erwin went back-to-school with a fun visit to the incredible Atlanta International School. The Knappenschmiede coaches were guest teachers in two German language classes and had a great time speaking German to the fluent students. After an amazing lunch with the German-American Chamber of Commerce, the coaches hit the gym to lead two youth clinics for 60 high-energy students. One of Atlanta’s most recognizable faces also made a guest appearance at the school to meet Erwin – “Freddie the Falcon,” who is the mascot for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.

Our Schalke delegation also took a quick trip downtown to meet the Consul General at the German Consulate. The Consul General welcomed Schalke’s initiatives, and was thrilled to hear that Schalke will be placing an emphasis on the city moving forward. Erwin presented the Consul General with a special autographed jersey to celebrate the occasion, and left holiday gifts for the Consulate members to enjoy.

On Saturday and Sunday, our group traveled to the beautiful LakePoint Sporting Complex in suburban Atlanta for the Kick It 3v3 tournament. Schalke’s coaches, led by Sam Farokhi, received a warm welcome as they walked the fields, and were genuinely impressed with the level of talent and enthusiasm by the players, who ranged from 8-16 years old. The coaches also evaluated each team for their adherence to the “Schalke Values,” and invited 20 teams to participate in two special soccer clinics during the tournament. One of those teams, “Storm,” won a random drawing for a VIP trip to Gelsenkirchen to watch the club’s final game of the season on May 18.

Umbro USA also joined us at the Kick It event, and hosted a “Boot Room” activation for all participants. Players were encouraged to sample Umbro’s latest boot offerings, and even had the chance to use them in games.