ETB SW Essen and TuRa Essen have been rewarded by the DFL for the football training of Noel Futkeu, who made his second division debut for Greuther Fürth in the 2024/25 season.

Oberliga club ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen and Kreisliga club TuRa Essen can each look forward to a financial boost. The DFL is honoring the two clubs for the training of Noel Futkeu, who made his professional debut for SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the 2024/25 season in the 2nd Bundesliga.

As part of the German Football League’s training rewards program, ETB will receive around €28,500 and TuRa around €35,500. The certificates were presented on Monday at the Uhlenkrug stadium. Among those present were Karl Weiß (1st chairman of ETB), Oliver Cardinal (1st chairman of TuRa), DFL Director of Game Operations & Fans Ansgar Schwenken, DFL Director of Communications Tobias Kaufmann, FVN President Peter Frymuth and, of course, Noel Futkeu. ETB Chairman Weiß was extremely proud of the award. Futkeu played for ETB’s youth team from 2012 to 2018, and in the summer of 2022, Weiß played a decisive role in bringing the striker back to Uhlenkrug from 1. FC Köln II.

“We are very happy about this and it is a very important and positive signal for amateur clubs,” said Weiß, explaining the background to Futkeu’s earlier return. “He knew the environment and the coach at the time, Damian Apfeld. In addition, his uncle was on board, who took intensive care of him during this time. In the end, we were able to convince him to join us, and it worked out really well. But he himself played the biggest part in that.”

We are very happy about this, and it sends a very important and positive signal to amateur clubs.

Karl Weiß

Weiß also revealed what the training fee will be used for: “We are investing the money in our youth. For example, we have a youth room that we are currently redesigning at great expense. It is to become a meeting place for young people, where school lessons will also be offered in the future, and we can put the money to very good use for this.”

TuRa Essen from Kreisliga B is also delighted with the cash injection. Futkeu began his soccer career there at the age of four and played for the club until he was twelve. TuRa is aiming to return to Kreisliga A. To achieve this goal, chairman Cardinal also wants to invest the money in youth development to strengthen the club at grassroots level.

“We will also invest in youth, but exactly how is still being planned. In addition, we need coaches, who of course also have to receive a small expense allowance. We are also in the process of setting up a Bambini team. It’s a long and difficult road, and the money helps enormously in developing the club,” Cardinal explained.