The promise from Lukas Podolski was easy. If followers of German league facet Kolner Haie might promote 100,000 digital tickets, the worldwide soccer star would swimsuit up for the staff sooner or later.
Properly, mission completed as the cash will profit the membership because it experiences the monetary impression of the COVID-19 pandemic. No followers are at present allowed in arenas there, which generates about 80% of their income, in keeping with the staff.
“I’m extraordinarily blissful for the Haie, that we bought the 100.000 tickets. I simply wish to say thanks to all of the individuals and firms that helped us,” mentioned Podolski, who grew up in Cologne. “As soon as every little thing is a bit more calm we’ll sit along with the membership to see how this continues. No matter it should appear to be: I’m wanting ahead to being a Haie participant.”
The DEL season will drop the puck Dec. 17 for the primary time since March.
Former NHLer Jonathan Matsumoto and present Kolner Haie ahead has even offered his No. 10 to Podolski to put on.
The 35-year-old Podolski is at present taking part in for Antalyaspor in Turkey after spending time with European powers like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Galatasaray. Internationally, he represented Germany 130 occasions and was a part of their 2014 World Cup profitable staff.
This isn’t the primary time Podolski has helped out his native staff. He additionally dropped the puck earlier than Kolner Haie’s 2019 out of doors sport in opposition to Dusseldorfer EG.
Possibly if this all works out we will get a one-on-one showdown between Lukas Podolski and former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, who suited up for the Guildford Phoenix of the UK’s Nationwide Ice Hockey League final 12 months.
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Sean Leahy is a author for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or comply with him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.
