Holger Obermann, Dettmar Cramer and Otto Pfister as football coaches support social projects in their respective countries of assignment.
On the 9th of October 2013 at the Foreign Office in Berlin, the “GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADORS” project gave prize money to three professionals, Holger Obermann, Dettmar Cramer and Otto Pfister. They were honoured for their international work as football coaches and in that position they are worldwide sports personalities who support sport and social structures especially in developing and emerging countries. Their prize money was earmarked to support social football projects in Nepal, Japan and Sudan.
This initiative was first announced on 13 May 2013 in Nuremberg, under the patronage of football legend Rudi Gutendorf who confirmed the winners of the “German Football Ambassador” award. The recipients Holger Obermann (German football ambassador in 2013), legendary coach Dettmar Cramer (Honorary Award for lifetime achievement) and Sami Khedira (Audience Award) were honoured for their commitment to the sport.
In the category “German Football Ambassador 2013” both winners and the nominees received prize money, which was earmarked for social projects in their respective countries of assignment. These prizes are now available for the funded projects which are of great importance to the recipients. The committee for 2013 also honoured Jürgen Klinsmann (USA), Michael Weiss (Philippines) and Bernd Stange (Singapore) for the selected projects in their respective countries of operation.
Holger Obermann has worked for decades, especially in developing countries and countries in crisis and was awarded the honour of “Football Development Aid Worker”. The completion of a soccer field in Nepal contributed to this honour. “The laughter of children and their shining eyes while the game, was always for me the reward for my work in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The award shows me that my long, often arduous and yet so beautiful path has received a positive response”, said Holger.
Dettmar Cramer affectionately known as the “Football Professor” because of his attention to detail has been active in more than 90 countries and today enjoys a great reputation in the world of soccer. He was a world expert receiving numerous titles (e.g. The World Cup) and awards (including one from the Emperor of Japan) during his career. Dettmar’s award and prize money will support two kindergartens in the vicinity of Fukushima. He says “I feel a deep joy with the appreciation of my work through the programme as “GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR.”
Otto Pfister is well known for his work in Africa and was present at the event. The former coach, together with colleagues in Ghana, Rwanda and Saudi Arabia decided to support with his prize money, the youth sections of the Sudanese Football Association.
These three professionals were, during the ceremony, awarded their prizes by a jury of five experts namely Uwe Seeler, Doris Fitschen, Lutz Pfannenstiel, Peter Lohmeyer and Rainer Holzschuh. During this event the co-operation between the German Foreign Office and the initiative “GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR” was explained and together they formally announced that in May 2014, the annual award ceremony for “GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADORS” will be held in the Berlin Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More information about the prize winners, the initiative “GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR” and the respective social projects can be found on our website.
