Hovers in the Airwave: "In the Wind"
In a significant move for girls' football in Düsseldorf, VfL Benrath has partnered with the DJK TUSA 06 Düsseldorf's performance center for women's and girls' football (LZM). This collaboration marks a milestone in the thriving women's football scene of the city.
The performance center, established in 2018 by DJK TUSA 06 Düsseldorf, serves as a hub for high-level training, coaching, and talent development for female players. With VfL Benrath on board, the center aims to enhance access to quality facilities and coaching for local girls, boosting grassroots participation and improving player pathways.
Marcus Italiani, the performance center director, will support VfL Benrath both conceptually and personally. He aims to inspire as many girls as possible for football in the club and train talents to play at the highest level, without the need for long travels to other cities.
Licensed junior coaches will lead training units in the U7 to U9 age group at VfL Benrath, while from the U13 age group, particularly talented players will have the opportunity to switch to the LZM and be trained as performance athletes.
Regular supervision and scouting at VfL Benrath will be implemented, and girls who are currently on the TUSA performance center's waiting list due to capacity limits can immediately start training in Benrath.
VfL Benrath aims to build and establish girls' teams in Düsseldorf's south through close exchange. Over 200 players from Düsseldorf and the surrounding region now benefit from this training.
The successful performance center model is being offered to other clubs, and VfL Benrath 06 is the first club to partner with the performance center for women's and girls' football.
The expanded partnership also includes further training for VfL Benrath's trainers on the topic of girls' football. The LZM also aims to support the establishment of girls' football AGs in schools around VfL.
Rachid Bassit, the 1st chairman of VfL Benrath, supports the performance center of TUSA for girls' and women's football. Gunter Bliss-Mueller, the 2nd chairman of DJK TUSA 06 Düsseldorf, states that the club's work in girls' football is a significant factor in its growth.
Italiani does not view TuSA as a competitor to Fortuna Düsseldorf in terms of recreational sports, but sees TuSA as focusing on performance sports. This partnership is expected to raise the standard of women’s football performance locally, increase visibility of women’s football, and contribute to stronger community engagement, all contributing to the long-term growth of the sport for girls in the region.
For more precise details or official statements, consulting local club announcements or the Düsseldorf football association’s releases would be necessary.
- The partnership between VfL Benrath and DJK TUSA 06 Düsseldorf's performance center for women's and girls' football aims to enhance access to quality facilities, coaching, and talent development in science-backed health-and-wellness programs, such as sports analysis and performance training.
- As part of this collaboration, licensed junior coaches from the LZM will lead training units in the U7 to U9 age group at VfL Benrath, while particularly talented players from the U13 age group can switch to the LZM to train as performance athletes, fostering a nurturing environment for the development of future sports stars.
- The successful implementation of this partnership is expected to raise the standard of women's health and sports performance locally, increase the visibility of women's football, and foster stronger community engagement in health-and-wellness and women's health initiatives in the region.
