Schalker International: Daniel Acheampong

How did you become a Schalke fan?
I became a Schalke fan during my first year at university. I was drawn to Schalke for various reasons, the main ones being the atmosphere at the VELTINS-Arena, the consistent success of the Knappenschmeide and obviously the Ghanaian connection (players including Hans Sarpei, Anthony Annan and Abdul Rahman Baba) over the years which gave me a sense of belonging.

What’s supporting Schalke like in Ghana?
People find it hard to believe that I support Schalke because it doesn’t follow the narrative that if you follow German football you must support Bayern Munich as they are the most successful team in terms of trophies. I love supporting Schalke though and I wave the Royal Blue flag proudly. German football is actually very popular here as it was one of the first European leagues to be broadcast live down here towards the end of the 20th century.

Have you ever been to Germany or seen Schalke play?
Unfortunately, I’ve never been to a Schalke game or to Germany. I’m looking forward to my first visit, hopefully it’s soon.

Who is your all-time favourite Schalke player?
My all-time favourite Schalke players are Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Manuel Neuer, Atsuto Uchida and Raúl.

What’s your most memorable Schalke game?
I have three favourite Schalke matches – it’s impossible to pick just one! The first was the win at San Siro against Inter, who were of course Champions League holders at the time. The second was the historic comeback from four goals down to draw 4-4 against Dortmund in the Revierderby and the final one would be the 4-3 win against Real Madrid, when Leroy Sané introduced himself to the world.

What makes Schalke special?
Schalke is a special club because of its sense of community and the adherence to our core values upon which our club was established. On top of that, the spirit of the club runs through every single fan infecting all of us with the right amount of passion to drive the club forwards.

Finally, why would you recommend supporting Schalke?
I would recommend being a Schalke fan because our club symbolises togetherness even in times of defeat and the optimism that drives us all irrespective of whatever position we may find ourselves in. Glück auf!