In the presence of Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Monika Staab (women’s national coach of Qatar), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea FC) and Rudi Gutendorf, were awarded for their sporting and social engagement abroad as well as for their roles as football ambassadors.
The second award ceremony of the initiative GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR on Monday evening at the Foreign Office in Berlin caused many emotions, surprises and was a little warm-up to the 2014 World Cup.
The “language” of football is spoken worldwide and creates many positives things even beyond the pitch! The initiative GERMAN FOOTBALL AMBASSADOR seeks to continuously promote commitment and reputation of German coaches and players abroad, while also supporting social projects worldwide.
The awards were handed out in the presence of high-ranking representatives of the UN, the Bundestag, the German Football Association (DFB), the DOSB and other institutions and organizations. Furthermore, Gerald Asamoah, Anis Ben-Hatira, Ronny, Mattuschka and Christopher Schorch were present.
Monika Staab was elected this year’s winner by a distinguished jury of the initiative “German Football Ambassador”. The women’s national coach of Qatar was active in over 60 countries in the name of the FIFA and shaped women’s and girls’ football especially in Muslim countries. Monika Staab: “I am very happy about the award and hope that the positive trend in women’s football thereby receives even more attention.”
Also Steffi Jones (DFB) emphasized the passionate commitment of Monika Staab in her speech. The other nominees were Winfried Schäfer (national coach of Jamaica) and Klaus Stärk (technical director of Namibia), who also attended the event and gave interesting insights to the international sports development. André Schurrle received the Audience Award 2014. In a public and international voting more than 37,000 votes were cast making the striker of Chelsea FC win among other 11 nominees. André Schurrle: “The award is an honour and an incentive to always be aware as a certain role model.” Award presenter, Peter Limbourg (director of the Deutsche Welle) appreciated the positive representation of Schurrle and of other “German legionnaires” abroad.
The winner donated the prize money to funding projects from Qatar/Syria and England. Ten projects could be supported worldwide by the initiative since early 2013.
The Foreign Office inaugurated an exhibition called “football world” during the event in which promotion and development in international sports of the Federal Republic of Germany are presented.
05/05/2014, Foreign Office, Berlin
