German Ministry for Development and TSG expand partnership

Gerd Müller: ''Sport is a language which is understood by all and which helps promote values such as fair play, tolerance and responsibility. Respect and fairness aren't just needed on the pitch or in the stadium, they're needed across the whole world. Even things such as fan merchandise should be produced in an ethically sound manner. TSG Hoffenheim have shown that they are real pioneers in this area and are producing a sustainable clothing label in Africa. In this way, TSG fans will be able to promote fair production and create new jobs in Africa with their purchase. Together we will use the power of sport to help educate children and young people who live in natural conservation areas by giving them lessons in environmental protection and waste avoidance after training. The Bundesliga needs clubs like TSG, clubs that take on responsibility and work towards sustainability.''

Dr. Peter Görlich ''Football is such a big part of society, and we want to use its immense popularity as a means of raising awareness of development issues among the German public and economy, which we hope will bring about action. We hope we can make the most of our partnership with the Ministry for Development to help us build on our previous work in Namibia and to help structure our organisation in a sustainable manner. The German Ministry for Development offers the ideal expertise to make this a reality. By establishing our own clothing brand in Africa, we also hope to send a message to the rest of the Bundesliga.''

TSG Hoffenheim is aiming to be the first Bundesliga club to establish a sustainable clothing brand produced in Africa. A proportion of the profits from the sales of the sustainable club collection will go towards financing football and environmental projects in the southern region of Africa. The Ministry for Development gives it full support to TSG in this initiative and will call on the experience of its association for sustainable clothing, which was founded in 2014 by minister Müller. The association has roughly 130 members, who combine to make up approximately 50 percent of the Geman clothing retail sector.

The partnership will also work on cooperative projects in Namibia. Awareness of environmental issues will be raised among children and young people by means of football training, particularly in environmental conservation areas in the economically underdeveloped north of the country.

For the past few years, TSG Hoffenheim has supported the ''Gee Om' project in Namibia. ''Gee Om'' roughly translates to ''take care''. Schemes have been organised as part of this project, such as "Climate Kicks", in which football matches are combined with environmental protection campaigns.

The Ministry for Development has expanded its sport programmes to over 30 developing countries, using them to support disadvantaged children and young people. For example, sports coaches are taught how to combine sports activity with a sense of social responsibility such as aids prevention and conflict resolution. The Ministry for Development is also cooperating with the German Football Association and the global governing body FIFA to build over 100 sports facilities in Africa.