There were gifts from president Herbert Hainer, followed by a tour of Säbener Straße, including a behind-the-scenes look at a training session with the FC Bayern first-team players. And to round off the visit, head coach Vincent Kompany, along with Jonathan Tah, Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala and Jonas Urbig, took the time to chat, pose for photos and sign autographs. It was a special visit by special guests as the team behind the film ‘Das gewisse Etwas’, which opens in German cinemas on 3 September and raises awareness of the issue of inclusion. The German record champions also play a certain role in the film.
Hainer told Simon Rupp, Jan Bobke, Frangiskos Kakoulakis and Luca Davidhaimann – four of the cast members with disabilities who had come with director Marc Rothemund that FC Bayern is delighted to welcome you to Säbener Straße. “You are people who inspire others because you play an important role in society in the truest sense of the word. Every person – absolutely everyone – should be an active part of our society,” the president said. Sport and culture can work together to break down barriers – including those in people’s minds – Hainer continued: “We at FC Bayern are constantly committed to equal, self-determined participation, and together we can reach many people with this important message.”
After watching the training session, Bobke knew exactly what question he would ask Kompany when he came over: “Why don’t you play yourself anymore?” The coach smiled at this heartfelt compliment: “I’m afraid I’m too old.” Dante, coach of the reserve team and 2013 Champions League winner with Bayern, also took the time to say hello to the film crew. Kakoulakis summed it up perfectly: “That ‘Gewisse Etwas’ [certain something] about Bayern is its ‘Mia san Mia’.”
Director Rothemund explained that, as a child, he used to go to Säbener Straße with his grandmother more often than to the playground, and that he still has autographs from Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller and Sepp Maier at home. “It’s a wonderful sign that we can raise awareness of the issue of inclusion together with Bayern. During our casting, our actors with disabilities radiated such a zest for life that we could all learn a thing or two from them. I think our film conveys that to the audience as well.”
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