Football is a world language. Whether leisure kicker, organized player or fan - football brings people together all over the world –in Erfurt too.

On 16 October of 2009 under the patronage of national football player Clemens Fritz and Lord Mayor of Erfurt Andreas Bausewein - with the slogan “Fans will be Friends” - children and teenager from Germany, USA, Rumania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Poland had competitions. The president of the Spirit of Football e.V., Andrew Aris, said about the motivation for the organizing: “With the aid of the tournament we should denounce the tendencies of exclusion and glorification of violence.”

mercado GmbH supported this successful children tournament and founded the cups.

The national soccer player Clemens Fritz und René Adler support people in Erfurt needing help.

The money collected will be given given to the „Clemens Fritz Foundation“, which supports associations like "MitMenschen" and social institutions like "Schlupfwinkel" - a contact point for kids and teenagers with social and academic problems. A great thing!

It`s nice to took part and to help with financial aid.

As one of the local sponsors, we supported the biggest golf benefit tourney which took place with well known people in the Free State. The collected money was given to the “Franz Beckenbauer Foundation” as well as to facilities like the “city mission”, the “animal shelter” and the “children aid organization KIO” in Erfurt.

Top Magazine Thuringia, issue 2, 6. volume, summer 2009