BVB players visit Dortmund children's hospital | OneFootball

During his first visit to the children’s hospital, Niko Kovac took plenty of time for detailed conversations. The coach spoke with mothers and fathers, nurses and doctors – and above all with Mustafa and Mia, Noel and Isabel. “At first, it’s not easy when you come in here and see the sick children. It really affects you deeply. But then you see the hope the children have and how happy they are to see us. That in turn makes us happy and confident that the children will get better.”

Kovac listened very carefully and noted: “We live in an ideal world, we have our sport and we don’t spend much time with things like this on our mind. But when you enter the children’s ward in the hospital, you realise that everything we do is wonderful, but there are so many more important things in life, and health is the most important thing. Perhaps our visit is a small gesture that can give the children hope, trust and confidence. I certainly hope so.”

With a view to the hospital staff, the BVB coach said: “When I see the attentive care the doctors and nurses give to the young patients, how every day they are confronted with sad faces but never give up, how they fight for every child: I think we can learn something from that. We out there must also stand together and fight against adversity. Every single player saw today what is most important in life: health.”

Emre Can was particularly happy about a reunion. The captain had already visited little Mustafa in the hospital a few weeks ago. The welcome on ward K41, the paediatric oncology ward, was correspondingly warm when he arrived with the whole team this time. “Mustafa is extremely cool and extremely strong. He is a little fighter. We had a great time together last time, and again today. The children get a real boost when we come here. It’s nice when we can put a smile on the children’s faces,” said Can, adding: “I also take a lot away with me. Sure, football is important, but this here is real life. I have enormous respect for every child who is here. They are so brave and so strong, we can all learn a lot from them. I wish all the children here all the best, that they get well again and can go home.” Mustafa is eight. He was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was four. Since then, he has been undergoing treatment on and off.

“The visit from the BVB players is always a highlight of the Christmas season. We have many children in oncology who come to our clinic for months at a time and are particularly delighted to have a break from the routine. It’s always nice to see the players taking the time to talk to the children and sign autographs. The children talk about it for days afterwards,” says Prof. Dr Dominik Schneider, director of the Clinic for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, adding: “The BVB visit will carry us through to Christmas.”