Butt, Ailton und Zidan kommen auch

The countdown to the relegation second leg against Hertha BSC is on, but HSV's home ground Volksparkstadion will have another sporting treat in store at the end of next week. On 28 May (Saturday), the "All-Stars for Ukraine" charity event will take place at the Volksparkstadion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the centrepiece of which will be a legends football match between the "Hamburg & the World" team and the DFB All-Stars. HSV legend Horst Hrubesch, who will coach one of the two teams, had recently joked: "When I look at the squads, it's hard for me to decide which side I'm in charge of."

The latest commitments for the Hamburg team are unlikely to make Hrubesch's decision any easier. Cult goalkeeper Jörg Butt, who played 133 games for the Rothosen from 1997 to 2001 and even scored 19 goals from penalty kicks, is looking forward to his return to Hamburg, as are strikers Ailton (2006 with HSV with three goals in 13 games) and Mohamed Zidan (2007/08 with HSV with two goals in 21 games). When they were asked about the match against former German internationals, their answer was prompt: "We're in it for a good cause." They will also meet some players with an HSV past on the side of the former DFB players, e.g. Ingo Hertzsch (1997-2003, 151 games, one goal for HSV) or also Christian Rahn (2002-2004, 45 games, eight goals). 

Hamburg's Bundesliga referee Patrick Ittrich, who will whistle for one half, is also looking forward to the event. It will be about sending a loud signal from the Hanseatic city for peace, against war and above all for the people from and in Ukraine. Special guest and musician Johannes Oerding, who will sing live in the Volksparkstadion during half-time, also wants to contribute to this.