Borussia Dortmund have announced their partnership with Wynnum Wolves Football Club (WWFC), one of the oldest clubs in Queensland, Australia, and now BVB’s “Official Youth Development Partner in Australia”.
The two clubs have signed an initial two-year football partnership beginning the 2023/2024 season. The commitment will see a series of youth development and coaching programmes as well as exchange opportunities such as football training camps in Germany.
Additionally, the clubs will collaborate on implementing a sustainable structure for WWFC’s female football program which can leverage BVB’s recent experience with their own women’s team which began play two seasons ago.
In 2022, the Australian club faced serious devastation of its facilities due to the Queensland flooding. The Federal, State and Local governments as well as BVB´s sustainability partner WILO are all assisting with the club’s rebuild and expansion at Carmichael Park. WILO, headquartered in Dortmund, is one of the world’s leading premium manufacturers of pumps and pump systems for the building services, water management and industrial sectors. Its Australian Subsidiary Head Office is just a stone’s throw from Wynnum Wolves FC’s home ground in the suburb of Murarrie.
Benedikt Scholz, Director Internationalisation & Commercial Partnerships and Managing Director BVB Fußballakademie GmbH said: “We are very excited about this partnership with a club who shares the same commitment to developing talented youth players as BVB does. We are looking forward to working with WWFC to bring to life our key objectives in youth development and also women’s football development.”
Wynnum Wolves FC President, Rabieh Krayem, is excited about the opportunities this new partnership will present to aspirational young players, as well as coaches at Wynnum Wolves FC. “Dortmund is renowned in Europe for its professional and progressive approach to youth development – building from the grassroots up,” he said. “That is something we have been very passionate about at our club as we have worked to grow the level of our youth program. I truly believe the synergies between our two clubs extend way beyond the yellow and black uniforms our teams both wear.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the partnership will continue to shape future Queensland athletes. “Brisbane is set to be Australia’s next sporting capital, and the community club players of today are shaping up to be the Olympians of tomorrow,” Cr Schrinner said. “The Wynnum Wolves is a deserving community organisation that creates champions and fosters communities here in Brisbane. We couldn’t be prouder of this homegrown team and their newest international partnership. It’s through great opportunities like this that Brisbane’s clubs keep getting better.”
WILO Australia Sales & Operations Manager, Mr Shaun Dallas, has been at the nexus of bringing the two clubs together. A passionate football fan and local business leader, he is looking forward to the positive outcomes that can be achieved. “WILO has been a long-term sustainability partner of BVB and is looking at ways it can support Wynnum Wolves FC in a sustainable rebuild of Carmichael Park after the floods”, he said. “Building strong connections with the community is important for our company and what better way to do that than by getting behind a community football club that has an ethos built around grassroots growth and connection.”