Friendly games, sponsoring appointments, ‘Day of the Fans’...Werder’s schedule during their 2008/2009 pre-season preparations is well packed out. But with that considered, the Green-Whites haven’t passed up the opportunity to raise their profile on the international stage.
Friendly games, sponsoring appointments, ‘Day of the Fans’... Werder’s schedule during their 2008/2009 pre-season preparations is well packed out. But with that considered, the Green-Whites haven’t passed up the opportunity to raise their profile on the international stage. As part of the DFL’s (German Football League) ‘Foreign Initiative’, on Tuesday, 05.08.2008, the Werder crew will travel to Bulgaria to take on ‘Profesionalen Futbolen Club Levski Sofia’ in a friendly game.
“We want to use our appearance in Sofia to improve the popularity of Bundesliga football in Bulgaria,” explained general manager Klaus Allofs before the side headed off for their brief visit to the Bulgarian capital, which builds part of an attractive target group in eastern Europe. Ten nations, and also smaller provinces, will broadcast the match live. Not only fans in Germany will be able to watch the tie - live on DSF - but also football supporters in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Montenegro will get a chance to see the Green-Whites in action in Sofia.
It may not be a competitive game but Werder Bremen know that the side from Sofia will be no push-over. Last season, trainer Velislav Vutzov’s side finished second in the ‘A-Grupa’, Bulgaria’s top flight, behind local rivals ZSKA Sofia. Prior to that, the Blue-Whites celebrated back-to-back championship wins and became Bulgaria’s most successful side since the turn of the century with ten title wins (five league championships, four cup wins and two Super Cup successes).
