Our favourite sports photo of the year.......

UAE - GER, June 2009

Heimspiel in Dubai: Vereinigte Arabische Emirate – VfB Stuttgart 2:7


Nach den ersten zwei Trainingstagen am Sonntag und Montag war klar – hier laeuft der VfB (noch hat Mario nicht unterschrieben) gegen die Emirate auf. Mit Cacau, Mario, Trash und Hitz sowie einiger ehemaliger (Hinkel, Lahm, Gentner) spielte eine stark stuttgarterisierte Nationalmannschaft bei hochsommerlichen Temperaturen gegen die Elf von Dominique Bathenay. In dem mit 7.000 Zuschauern ungefaehr halb gefuellten Stadion war die erste Ueberraschung, dass so gut wie keine Araber im Publikum anwesend waren (soviel zum Thema DFB-Marketing), die zweite, dass aufgrund fehlender Soundanlage keine Nationalhymne gegroehlt werden konnte (musste dann in Eigenregie abgesungen werden).

Trotzdem fand sich der harte Kern des Commandos nach einigen geheimene Vorbereitungsgespraechen im Irish Village unter Einfluss belgisch-hollaendischer Braukunst dann im Al Maktoum Stadion ein, wo sie sich erstmal bei den mitgereisten Laenderspielfans aus Schlacke und Muenchen beliebt machten, indem das Commando Banner etwas praesenter als der Rest direkt hinter das Emirate-Tor gehaengt wurde – wohl in weiser Voraussicht ob der Dinge, die da kommen sollten.

Nach einer halben Stunde Wartezeit war es dann Westermann (klassisch mit der Pike), der den Torreigen eroeffnete, gefeiert durch Bengalos von einem mitgereisten Fanclub von woanders als Stuttgart sowie kurzfristiger Unterhosenbraeunung der Kollegen als die Polizei anrueckte.

Super Mario traf dann auch wieder (danke UAE). In der 67. Minute und einige Tore spaeter dann hatte der aufmerksame Kameramann einige Commando-Vertreter in den Menschenmassen ausgemacht und in die deutschen Wohnzimmer ausgestrahlt – nicht ohne auf Herrn Kerners Lobeshymne auf die Friedfertigkeit der anwesenden Fans zu verzichten. Alles in allem ein netter Kick mit vielen Toren, einem weiteren Scorerpunkt fuer Geronimo und der Gewissheit, dass wenn man wirklich will auch bei 35 Grad Fussball gespielt werden kann. Machen wir ja schliesslich auch, auf hoechstem Niveau.

Gruesse gehen insbesondere an die mitgereisten Stuttgarter Fans inkl. unserer Freunde aus Deizisau, die mit bewundernswerter Performance an 4 Abenden zwei mal im Rock Bottom aufgeschlagen sind. Glueckwunsch! Auch die Goeppinger Loewen sollten lobend erwaehnt werden, da sie sofort die arabische (also quasi die Untertuerkheimer) Kurve besetzt hatten.

Dear Friends,

A year of mixed feelings about our beloved club has come to an end and will climax in the game of the year against the arch rivals from Munich. Since this is my last day in the office I would like to take the opportunity and wish you all a merry Christmas and for those who I won’t see at the piss up a happy new year 2009.

I think we have seen a great growth in numbers at the Commando (we were struggling to meet the 10 needed people and are now at 16 steady members and therefore definitely the biggest German football fan club in the Near and Middle East) and I think it is fair to say that from next year on we will get even more support here in Dubai since Christian is moving out here soon – but there will be an official welcoming/piss taking mail as soon as he arrives. Our own website has been set up and if you google “Commando Dubai” you will be surprised how many hits there are already – we’re almost famous! (For sure the guy from Abu Dhabi TV remembers Manolo belching in his microphone...) Just to let you know, the January 08 games against Porto Alegre and Ajax are currently shown on Emirates Airline’s sports TV channel – with a good view of the Commando banner in the stadium several times.

Questionable transfers, a change in coaches towards the end of the year, brilliant games (Bremen, Schalke) and horrible ones (Dortmund, Koeln, Wolfsburg, Leverkusen, ahhh forget it), a non existent forward who still scores the most important goals (Gomez), lots of speculation about the non existent forward and possible replacement (Lispel-Kevin) , a new goalie with part time world class brilliance and part time loss of sanity, shit loads of injuries and unfortunately no chance for the younger players have been Stuttgart’s main characteristics this year – the only good thing is that Schlacke is probably even worse. Unfortunately we haven’t had many opportunities to celebrate our usual ‘4S” - Spaetzle mit Sosse Sportschau Saturdays (our own “Saturday Sanctuary”) but I would love to continue with that habit next year and I am looking forward to seeing you all again munching away on Marc’s famous German noodle(s).

Since the “chest ring gods” have decided to go to Portugal this year we’ll be stuck with the bloody Bayern who are coming to Dubai in January – maybe a good chance to show them our deepest disgust by going to the stadium with the Commando banner and cheering for the other team (and possibly abusing Marc van Bommel for general dutchness – throwing stuff at him is allowed and most welcome, point of reference is the abuse of Edgar Davids during the Ajax game). Another highlight in 2009 apart from the German cup game against Munich in January will be the game of the German national team here in the UAE which is scheduled for early June – a chance to prove the allegiance to the Stuttgart players on the team live in the stadium.

Due to the fact that we started the Commando in January last year I would try to schedule a club meeting in the middle of next month to do what needs to be done (elections, possible changes of the club rules etc.) followed by an enormous piss up in a club where they’ll let us in with Stuttgart jerseys (yes, read between the lines).

Dear VfB supporters, let me wish you all the best for the new year and a wonderful time with your families and friends over the Christmas holidays. I am looking forward to active and passive football days with you in 2009.

White and red regards (which is probably why it’s safe to say that Santa is also a VfB fan),

Felix

Meet the "enemy"

Yesterday the board of Commando Dubai took the opportunity to talk to the 1974 World Cup winner Paul Breitner, who today works as an advisor and scout for the arch enemy FC Bayern Munich.

During the conversation Felix and Marc expressed their delight about Munich's bad start into the season and their condolences for Munich's defeat in the German Cup next January. 

At the end Commando Dubai invited Mr. Breitner to the Stuttgart championship celebrations at "the world's biggest cat loo" (Munich's Allianz Arena) .

Left to right: Paul Breitner (FC Bayern Munich), Uschi Mahl (Editor of "Morgenland"), Uta Becker (Marketing Communications Manager, Grand Hyatt Dubai), Felix Weller, Marc Mikulla (both Commando Dubai) 

Cheers to the upcoming champion VfB Stuttgart!

Sexy girls in football shirts

To raise the attractiveness of the Commando Dubai's internet appearance, we decided to start a new series. "Sexy girls in football shirts" will present some of the most beautiful girls in the region in some of the most attractive football shirts (mainly Stuttgart for sure!)

If you want to send in pictures, send them directly to contact@commandodubai.com.

(Please no unerotic, unsexy and disgusting stuff like Bayern or Schalke jerseys.....)

So today we start with our friends from Scotland:

VfB Stuttgart vs. Bayer Leverkusen (August 23rd, 2008)

Commando Dubai is proud to present the new club shirts

For that purpose only, His Excellency Felix Weller, President of Commando Dubai and Ruler of the VfB Supporters Middle East, travelled the long way to Mercedes Benz Arena in Stuttgart with his entourage.

Despite the inglorious defeat, we're proud to present these photos as proof of the Commando's irrefutable support to the team!

VfB Stuttgart vs. FK Saturn Ramenskoje (July 27th, 2008)

Second leg of UEFA Intertoto Cup 3rd round.

After a 1-0 defeat in the suburbs of Moscow, the team needed extra time to kick the Russians out.

First match ever the banner of the Commando Dubai left Arabia to beautify the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion.

(meanwhile renamed to Mercedes-Benz-Arena)