Mini World Cup in Oberaue
The soccer division of SV Schott is once again hosting the “SaaleCup Jena.” From June 19 to 21, youth teams from all over Germany and beyond will travel to Jena to compete at the Oberaue Sports Center. 127 teams have registered, and a total of around 3,000 participants are expected. They will be coming from nearly every federal state, and teams from Poland, the Czech Republic, and France will also be participating.
In the Spirit of the World Cup
In keeping with the World Cup currently underway, the youth tournament is also themed around this competition. Each team was allowed to choose a World Cup participating country in advance that it would like to represent, and that country will be listed as such in the tournament schedule. The corresponding flags have also been provided.
“We have a lot of colorful countries participating,”
says organizer Wolfgang Grüneberg-Lemke of SV Schott Jena. The club is organizing the tournament in cooperation with “Ballfreunde GmbH.” The official host is Jena’s Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, and Thuringia’s Minister President Mario Voigt has assumed the role of patron.
Largest Youth Soccer Tournament in Central Germany
The SaaleCup will be opened on Friday at 7 p.m. by Mayor Thomas Nitzsche and Guntram Wothly, the volunteer coordinator for the Thuringian State Chancellery. The tournament, which receives financial support from the city, is aimed at soccer players on teams ranging from U8 to U15. From Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, the approximately 3,000 participants will compete on 13 fields in Oberaue to determine the best in their age groups. Fifteen youth teams from SV Schott will also be competing.
“To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no larger tournament for youth soccer teams in Central Germany,”
said Grüneberg-Lemke.
This year, 27 referees from the “Saale-Orla Soccer District” are on hand to officiate the tournament. The groundskeepers and greenkeepers from Kommunale Immobilen Jena (KIJ) ensure the excellent quality of all tournament fields at the Oberaue Sports Center. The winners in each of the ten age groups will be crowned on Sunday at 2 p.m.
On Saturday and Sunday, a field in Oberaue will feature numerous sports and game stations for children and teenagers. These activities are open to the public—even for those not competing in the SaaleCup.
“The SaaleCup has quickly developed into a fantastic event with great appeal. It attracts teams from all over Germany and beyond. In addition to the athletic challenge, it offers young participants a great opportunity for exciting encounters, including international ones,”
said Mayor Nitzsche.
“Events like this get many children and teenagers active. I’d like to thank the many volunteers whose tremendous dedication makes this extraordinary tournament possible. Anyone interested is cordially invited to come see for themselves and cheer on the teams in the Oberaue,”
added Johannes Schleußner, Head of the Sports Department.
Numerous Accommodation Options
As in previous years, an area in the Oberaue will once again be converted into a campground. In addition, several schools in Jena are making classrooms available for overnight stays. “Many thanks to the Carl-Zeiss-Gymnasium and the Adolf-Reichwein-Gymnasium for their wonderful support,” says Grüneberg-Lemke. All available youth hostel and hotel rooms in Jena and Weimar have been reserved for additional participants. The teams will decide in advance which accommodation option they wish to use.
1,000 servings of hot meals per day
As a partner, the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB) Jena will prepare hot meals for the participants on Friday and Saturday evenings—around 1,000 servings per day. “This year, there will even be three different menu options to choose from,” says Grüneberg-Lemke. During the day, around 100 volunteers from SV Schott, along with parents, friends, and relatives, as well as three external partners with their food stands, will also be taking care of the participants’ meals. “We’re very pleased that some volunteers from the FC Carl Zeiss Jena Supporters Club are also helping us with this event,” emphasizes Grüneberg-Lemke.
Note on Parking
The parking lots at the Sportforum, the Südbad, and on Roland-Ducke-Weg can only be used with “Participant” parking tickets during the tournament and will be closed to the public during the tournament.