They may be a long way from home and without their families to celebrate with them, but on Tuesday the Kaizer Chiefs technical staff comprising of Head Coach Ernst Middendorp and his two countrymen Frank Eulberg and Rainer Dinkelacker celebrated the German re-unification day at the German embassy in Pretoria.

It was on the 3rd October 1990 when East and West Germany came together after the country was divided at the end of World War II in 1949, leaving many families living on either side of the divide without contact for more than 40 years.

The Chiefs trio were invited to the Embassy to celebrate the 16th anniversary of German re-unification (Germany’s 1st unification occurred in 1871), with the wider expatriate German community living in and around Gauteng.

Middendorp said he was pleased to have been part of the festivities. “For us in Germany October 3 is a very special day, it marks a time when we put our past behind us and began a new life together as one Germany.”

The Chiefs coach also added that the re-unification of Germany in 1990 had its benefits for German football. “Immediately after Germany came together in 1990 Mattiaus Sammer, who was from the East formed part of the national team and played an important part in the success of team, most significantly helping them win the 1996 European Championships in England.

“Perhaps I do think it is also important to mention that had Germany not re- united in 1990 then a player Michael Ballack who was born in the town of Gorlitz in 1976, which was in the old East Germany, and players from the West like Bastian Schweinsteiger might never have played on the same field representing Germany. That would have been a tragedy for soccer fans. The coming together of East and West Germans has made for a better Germany, and definitely had its positive spin-offs for soccer in Germany”.

Amakhosi assistant coach Eulberg said of the significance of the 3rd of October saying, “America has the 4th July, South Africa has April 27th for us October 3rd represents a day in modern history that brought Germany together as one country, although I am away from home being able to spend it at the German Embassy with other Germans living in South Africa was really nice. The day was made sweeter by the fact that I also got to sample some German Food, which I have not had it in a while.”