Unity On And Off The Pitch: Exchange Program Connects Buffalo Grove, German Soccer Players

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — With the United States set to host the World Cup next year, buzz for soccer in this country is higher than ever. Players from around the globe will be traveling to North America to participate in the biggest sporting event in the world.

In that spirit of international camaraderie, soccer players in Buffalo Grove and Germany participated in an international exchange program over the summer and fall, where each hosted and visited the other. Schwaben Athletic Club, one of the oldest independent soccer clubs in the U.S., sent 18 players to visit Hamburg in July. Last month, players from the Hamburger Football Association (Hamburger Fussball Verband) made it to Buffalo Grove in the sixth player exchange between the clubs since the program began in 2012.

"Players often talk about the fantastic experiences from playing against local competitions, experiencing local food, learning a different culture and improving language skills," Thomas Gansauge, director of coaching at Schwaben Athletic Club, tells Patch.

According to the club, the purpose of the program is to:

• Expose players to a country with strong soccer culture
• To represent Schwaben in high level competition
• Travel to become a better person and soccer player
• Build character
• Gain a new perspective on the game of soccer
• Experience and appreciate another culture
• Create friendships with international soccer players

Schwaben A.C., which was founded by 13 "passionate" young men in Chicago, turns 100 next year. The club, located at 301 Weiland Road, includes a youth program, as well as men's and women's teams.

In April 1970, the club voted unanimously to purchase eight acres of land in Vernon Township, later to be incorporated into Buffalo Grove. Two years later, Schwaben A.C. joined forces with the Schwaben Verein, a social club, and sold them one half of the original eight acres, and together they purchased an additional 10 acres across the street, which has a brick home on it to be used for the caretaker.

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The founders of Schwaben A.C. emigrated from Germany, so establishing a relationship with the country over the years made sense. Julius Roth, a member of the Illinois State Soccer Association Hall of Fame, had facilitated players exchanges in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2011, he introduced Gansauge to Christian Okun at Hamburg Football Association. The two discussed former a partnership, which officially began the next year with the first exchange.

Following a 10-day visit to Germany by players from the 2012/2013 boys program at Schwaben in July, the Hamburg players were in Buffalo Grove for 10 days at the end of October. The visit to Chicagoland included games against neighboring clubs, a game versus Chicago Fire at the Schwaben facility, a visit to the German consulate, Willis Tower, Stevenson High School, an architechral boat tour and a family day in Buffalo Grove.

"The family day is usually the highlight," Gansauge said. "Each player spends the entire day with the hosting family and vice versa. The players have the biggest smile on their faces when they have spent the day together in Hamburg and in Chicago/Buffalo Grove and keep talking about their experiences."

He added that players from the different exchanges over the years have remained friends through social media.

Meanwhile, with the 100-year anniversary of the club coinciding with the World Cup, Schwaben is hoping to add a new turf field with lighting on Weiland Road.

Organized by Alicia Lauhon, Schwaben's youth program and communications director, a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of the endeavor was launched earlier this year. As of Monday, nearly $10,000 of a $250,000 goal has been raised. All donations/contributions are tax-deductible.

"A cornerstone of our next chapter is improving our facilities," the campaign reads. "We're investing in a state-of-the-art artificial turf field with lighting to ensure our players enjoy an unparalleled soccer experience — regardless of weather or daylight limitations during late fall, winter, and early spring."