From neo-nazi to soccer coach for refugees | DW Documentary

A former far-right extremist now coaches a soccer team of young refugees. As a coach and mentor, he helps them build a sense of community and settle into their new home.

Thomas Eichstätt, known to everyone as "Eichi,” used to be deeply involved in the far-right scene in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Today, he volunteers in the small town of Torgelow as the coach of FC Pio.
Many of the young players he coaches have fled their home countries. They face an array of challenges in their adopted country: they must find jobs, navigate a lack of acceptance, and process their experiences as refugees.
But on the field, what matters most is the moment. Soccer offers these players structure and a sense of belonging.
Off the field, many are caught up in the difficult process of integration and are consumed by a longing for home. Whether on the field or off of it, "Eichi” is there for them. For some players, he has become an important role model.
At the same time, the soccer coach is coming to terms with his own past. "I used to be a bad person,” says Eichstätt, of his time in the far-right scene. He receives no payment for his work with FC Pio—the financially strapped municipality can’t afford to fund his efforts.
Loraine Blumenthal’s film shows how soccer and personal commitment can build bridges—even in an environment characterized by frequent political demands for deportation.

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