RBL players welcomed with open arms as they visit local school | OneFootball

"I’ve rarely been welcomed to school like that," smiled Ridle Baku as he stepped onto the grounds of the German-speaking Humboldt School in São Paulo. Alongside Lukas Klostermann, Leopold Zingerle and five of our academy players, the morning trip took the Red Bulls to leafy Interlagos for an encounter that will be remembered for a long time.

So what awaited our boys there? Pure excitement, glowing eyes and an unforgettable welcome. Think we’re exaggerating? Just take a look at the videos.

A classroom like no other

Upon arrival, the players were taken on a short tour of the impressive 60,000 square metre campus. Green spaces, modern classrooms, a swimming pool and even a theatre – this is a place where education meets joy.

In the cinema hall, pupils were watching Good Bye, Lenin! - naturally, in German. That’s because at the Humboldt School, children grow up bilingual, with the opportunity to earn both a German A-level and the Brazilian school-leaving qualification. The school is a place that builds bridges - not only between two countries but between people.

A rousing welcome

No sooner had our boys entered the sports hall than they were met with deafening cheers. Thunderous applause, beaming faces and waving hands – Ridle, Klosti, Leo and the youngsters were given the warmest of welcomes.

“We really didn’t expect that. It was overwhelming,” said Klostermann, still beaming.

The rapturous reception was followed by a relaxed Q&A session. The students were keen to know everything: What’s life like as a professional footballer? How do you balance school and sport? Particularly exciting were the stories from our youth players - key performers on the pitch but still pupils in the classroom.

The senior players also shared personal insights:

“I always enjoyed school, especially the social side of it. In the end, life’s always more fun when you do things together,” Klosti told the kids.

Autographs instead of maths class

After the Q&A came a quick shooting challenge - and our lads showed they can deliver not just on the pitch, but also in the school gym.

Then came autograph time - and the place erupted. Forget the barriers, the kids were completely ecstatic!They rushed towards our players, eager for selfies, high fives and autographs, be it on a piece of paper, shirts, water bottles or even shoes.

“That kind of joy from children isn’t something you see every day. They live and breathe football. It really shows how deeply the sport is woven into Brazilian culture,” said a visibly moved Ridle Baku.

A parting gift

The kids couldn’t get enough of our players and would have happily kept them there all day. But there was one last highlight before they left: We presented the school with a special-edition RBL shirt featuring the unique squad numbers from our Brazil Tour as a small thank-you for such an unforgettable welcome.

“It was a brilliant experience for everyone involved - for us and for the whole school,” summarised Lukas Klostermann.

A visit that truly deserved extra time - and who knows, maybe one of those kids will be pulling the strings in midfield someday.

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