It's all in the family for Germany

New Delhi: The German hockey squad at the Junior World Cup here are feeling at home. And it has little to do with the perfect weather conditions or the level of hockey that they are exhibiting.

Each of the 18 member squad has at least one family member travelling with them, and hence it's not a surprise when the entire bunch walk up to a particular section of the crowd after every game.

The group of 28 -travelling in batches of 17 and 11 -consist of their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and even girlfriends.

Skipper Mathias Muller has four members of his family here. His father, mother and elder brother, Marius who also plays hockey, is here with his girlfriend Antonia.

“We do that all the time,” says Marius. “This was a special one as when else can one get a chance to visit a country like

India?“ “We are one big family ,“ says 65-year-old Maeggi Linnekogel, mother of midfielder DieterEnrique. “And just like all families stick together, fight, compete and then get back together again, it is the same with us.

“Our children play in different clubs in the European leagues, and that is when we turn competitors. We tease each other and revel in our children’s success. It is a sort of mini rivalry, which turns into a great family bond whenever they play for Germany.” And it’s not only hockey that keeps the families busy. “In the evening, we all gather for a session of wine and dance, be it any country or any competition. It is a holiday and sight-seeing tour as well,” says Maggie, a single mother.

Most parents believe that it is important to travel with the youngsters, to help them feel comfortable and give them a feeling of home support.

Among them is Dirk Wellen, father of striker Niklas, who had himself won the Junior World Cup with the West Germany team in 1982. As a source of inspiration, Dirk has given his son the trophy that he had received as part of the winning squad member. “I told Niklas, son it was great when I won it. And you can do it too,” says senior Wellen, who has for company his wife, Bobsi, herself a coach at the junior level.

On Sunday, the bunch travelled to Garh Himmat Singh, a village near Jaipur, to donate hockey kits including shoes, goalkeeping pads, sticks, etc. to the children of the Bua Sa Village Foundation, a hockey programme run by German lady Andrea Thumshirn.