Dortmund's name was once a synonym for coal, steel, beer - and football. But with the first three having disappeared, it is Borussia who bring identity to the city and its people. On Dec 19 the club will celebrate their 100th anniversary - a century of Borussia Dortmund, 27 years of pure passion, at least when talking about myself.
But I am not an individual case. Being born in Dortmund one has no other chance than to be a fan of the team who are also known as BVB 09. If your preferences differ you are no Dortmunder. It's all or nothing. That's how it is, and has been for the past century.
Even Franz Beckenbauer, the vice president of the German Football Federation and chairman of our main rivals Bayern Munich, admitted the heart of German football beats nowhere else than in the Ruhrgebiet. I am sure that it was the press that mixed up his words and Beckenbauer originally said that it is Dortmund where the heart beat is louder than anywhere else. That's exactly what I experience whenever there's a match - here or elsewhere.
Borussia Dortmund are not only about the team, but the fans. There are 650 fan clubs around the world and 50,549 season-ticket holders for 2007-2008.
It's a gigantic black and yellow family. So admiration and support did not dilute when victories failed to appear. Talent is important, but coherence is fundamental. The club have seen better times - in sporting and financial aspects - but no other German football club have seen better fans than us. And I promise this will never change - take it as an early birthday present.
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Results
2pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: Mouheeb, Tom Marquand (jockey), Nicholas Bachalard (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Honourable Justice, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Dark Silver, Fernando Jara, Ahmad bin Harmash
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Dark Of Night. Antonio Fresu, Al Muhairi.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Habah, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
A general guide to how active you are:
Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary
5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active
10,000 - 12,500 steps - active
12,500 - highly active
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
