"No German Passport": Chialo on the Desire to Represent the National Team

Football: New Season Preview - "No German Passport": Chialo on the Desire to Represent the National Team

Joe Chialo, Berlin's Culture Senator, reminisced about his unsuccessful stint in the national football team before the European Championship in Germany. "I played football during my younger days," Chialo told dpa on Friday, recalling his time with the club TuRa Hennef, which later combined with FC Hennef 05.

"I was also in a selection led by Holger Osieck, who was assistant to Franz Beckenbauer at the time," the 53-year-old politician said. Osieck planned to invite Chialo back then, but he didn't possess a German pass. Chialo was raised in Bonn, the son of a Tanzanian diplomatic family. "That dream was quickly shattered." Nevertheless, Chialo currently practices boxing.

In Chialo's view, football and culture play similar roles in promoting social cohesion. "It's where people come together, transcending their social standing, to share an emotion - ideally a positive one that enriches them or tests them, leading to moments that can even shake their very being. No matter what, these shared experiences make us human and unite us as a community," he explained. During the EM, a broad cultural program is organized. Numerous cultural institutions are taking part, either in their own venues or at common grounds like the Fan Zone at the Brandenburg Gate. A concert featuring Peter Schilling is also arranged; his 1980s hit "Major Tom (Completely Lost)" has been a stadium anthem for fans for quite a while and has witnessed a sudden resurgence in popularity.

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1. Germany's youth programs in soccer and cultural policy aim to promote social cohesion, similar to what Joe Chialo experienced during his playing days.
2. As Berlin's Culture Senator, Chialo believes that soccer and music can bring people together, just like his time with TuRa Hennef and Holger Osieck's selection team.
3. The EM in Germany features a broad cultural program, mirroring Chialo's beliefs about the power of art and sports to unite individuals and communities.
4. Despite Osieck's plans to invite Chialo due to his talent, the lack of a German pass prevented him from representing the national team during the European Football Championship.
5. In the spirit of unity, numerous cultural institutions participate in the EM's cultural program, providing shared experiences for the people of Berlin and beyond.
6. Franz Beckenbauer, known as 'Der Kaiser' in German soccer, played a crucial role in shaping the country's football culture and its relationship with Europe, including hosting the European Championship in Germany.
7. CDU member Joe Chialo, despite his unsuccessful bid to represent Germany's soccer team, remains involved in sports leadership, practicing boxing and championing a holistic approach to promoting community engagement.
8. Joe Chialo continues his endeavors to bring people together through culture and sports, just like his fellow CDU member and former soccer star, Joe Chialo of Joe Chialo Band, who also shares a passion for connecting people through music.

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