By the way, Blik’s column: Professional football player between heaven and hell

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Eight days ago Kai Brüncker was a guest in the ZDF studio. Giant man. The striker of the 1st club Saarbrücken once again describes the football fairy tale that his club is now writing. After second division Karlsruhe, after Eintracht Frankfurt and a sensational coup against Bayern Munich, Saarbrücken also knocked out Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Saarlanders are writing the history of German football. Third division team in the cup semi-finals.

“It’s crazy,” says Brüncker in his first emotions after the victory over Gladbach. He scored the winning goal in stoppage time against Gladbach and brought the stadium to a boil. A few days later we visit the “Studio of Current Sports”. “I would wish every person at least once in their life such feelings of happiness and emotions. You have to experience it, it’s impossible to describe,” he says.

Qualified electrician

He then talks about his career, which has nothing to do with the glitz and glamor of professional football. He trained as an electrician and played for a long time in the lower league of Baden-Württemberg until he received an offer from Freiburg. “I discussed this with my father. And he said: “You have to do this, this chance only comes once in a lifetime.” As he says these words, his voice becomes quieter and more fragile. Suddenly the radiant hero is surrounded by a strange sadness and thoughtfulness.

Stroke of fate: father was found dead

Background: Exactly a year ago, Brunker was not in heaven, but in hell. The body of a man was found on the banks of the Brigach River in Donaueschingen. This is Dirk Brüncker, father of the Saarbrücken Cup hero. His father Dirk was also a footballer. On December 23, 2022, he left a bar in the center of Willingen shortly after midnight. And then he disappears without a trace.

His son Kai played for Magdeburg after stints at Freiburg and the English 4th League. Other players help him find his father. Sometimes there are four hundred people on the move. The fate of Dirk Brüncker moves people throughout the Black Forest.

There are 77 days between hope and fear before confidence emerges. Dirk Brüncker is dead, the influence of third parties is excluded, there is no evidence of suicide. The police suspect an accident.

The peak follows a year after the trough

This is also an extremely stressful time for Kai Brüncker. After his father is found, he writes an emotional message on Instagram. “Whether at home in Magdeburg or throughout Germany, you all offered us your support, warmed us up and shook our hands. It feels like a huge burden is being lifted from us. The pain is very deep, but there will be peace. We are finally reunited as a family.”

And now, exactly one year after this shocking event, Kai Brünker is experiencing the very peak of his career. And the fairy tale can continue. On April 2, Saarbrücken will host second division team Kaiserslautern in the semi-finals of what Brüncker calls “the game of the century.” The chances of reaching the final in Berlin as part of a third division team remain unchanged.

Perhaps he remembers the words of his late father. “We need to take advantage of this opportunity. It only comes once.”

Source: Blick