03.05.2023

Impressions from the SPIE Football Challenge Cup

Our colleagues report

SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa has organised the annual SPIE Football Challenge Cup in Düsseldorf since 2016 – a true highlight every year! Between matches we talked with a few of the 300 football enthusiasts from Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. And Stefanie Krecht, who organises the tournament, reveals which team is her secret favourite.

Woman power from Trier

‘Our team has a lot of women. Since we couldn’t find enough men who were willing to play, we recruited a few from Berlin and Dortmund. The special thing about our team is that we’re the only one with a female goalkeeper. We’re really happy to be here.’

Helen Schmitz, Anja Junghanns, Aleksandra Baranowska and Silke Holstein, Trier

SPIE Aviators: flying high

‘Our branch is called Flughafen Hamburg. We work for Lufthansa Technik, looking after all of their infrastructure, production facilities, and ground power for the aircraft. That’s why ‘Aviators’ is the perfect name for our team. This is our second time here as a team, and the third time for me. The tournament is a lot of fun, and of course getting together with fellow employees benefits our daily work as well.’

Kevin Cerek, Hamburg

All-out effort

‘We met a few times at an indoor football arena to practise together a bit. We’re all glad to be here today, and we’re going to do our very best.’

Timo Klaassen, Oberhausen

Spending time together

‘For me the highlights today are getting to know so many people from Germany and Central Europe, spending time together, and especially having fun.’

Fernanda Marquez, Hamburg

Players from all over Germany

‘Our team comes from all over Germany. We have players from Düsseldorf, Hanover, Berlin and Frankfurt. So we couldn’t practise together ahead of time, but things always fall into place on the pitch and we all get along well.’

Bastian Dittrich, Hanover

Interview with the organiser of the SPIE Football Challenge Cup

Stefanie, what’s your favourite event of the year?

It’s the SPIE Football Challenge Cup, of course, simply because employees from all of the SPIE Deutschland & Zentraleuropa countries are here. This year we’re starting with 24 teams again. In spite of the strike, all of them managed to get to Düsseldorf on Friday. We’ve got great weather, and so far the tournament is going really well.

How many times have you organised the SPIE Football Challenge Cup now?

We’ve held the Football Cup every year since 2016. Unfortunately, there was a two-year interruption because of the pandemic. And last year it took place with a few preventive measures. This year it’s more carefree again.