ECKENTAL, Germany: Pierre Kaiser has truly mastered the art of ball juggling. And when it comes to the classic rondo drill, the 35-year-old is right in the thick of it. What makes it special: in 2007, Pierre lost his leg in a train accident. Since then, football has become his greatest passion.
The social worker now showcases that passion weekly with Bavarian club TSV Brand’s second team, where his remarkable determination has earned him a spot in regular league play this season.
“I moved out here, to the countryside with my wife, and our neighbor came over and said, ‘Oh, you played amputee football? Well, you’re coming along to training’,” Kaiser recalled. “At first, I didn’t really want to, but he kept asking, and eventually I joined the guys — and they were just an incredibly friendly bunch. It was so much fun.”
His impact extends beyond mere participation. Coach Ulf Forster highlights Kaiser’s tangible contribution during his debut appearance.
“He already got a run-out from us once, and everyone was absolutely thrilled. He basically helped set up the 2-1 goal by unsettling the defense,” Forster said. “That’s what led to the goal — the opponents just didn’t know how to respond.”
Kaiser’s commitment shines through in every training session, though he acknowledges certain limitations remain — matching teammates’ speed and enduring full matches present ongoing challenges. His crutches, meanwhile, follow specific rules: if he deliberately blocks the ball with them, play stops as with a handball.
Between amateur league matches, Kaiser competes at the elite level of German amputee football.
“In four or five weeks, the amputee football Bundesliga kicks off again. There are five teams competing. We have five matchdays, and the champion is decided through a playoff in October,” he explained.
While continuing his Wednesday training routine with TSV Brand, Kaiser is simultaneously working to establish an amputee football team in nearby Eckental — because football, after all, is for everyone.
![]()
![]()
One-legged footballer shines in German amateur league
Short Url
https://arab.news/9k8ug
One-legged footballer shines in German amateur league
- The social worker now showcases that passion weekly with Bavarian club TSV Brand’s second team
- Coach Ulf Forster highlights Kaiser’s tangible contribution during his debut appearance
Svitolina downs Gauff, Pegula fights back to beat Anisimova in Dubai semis
- Elina Svitolina secures second consecutive victory over the world number four in a grueling three-hour encounter
DUBAI: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina kept up her recent winning run against Coco Gauff as she edged the American 6-4 6-7(13) 6-4 on Friday to set up a final showdown with Jessica Pegula at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Pegula shook off a first-set stumble to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Svitolina secured her second consecutive victory over the world number four in a grueling three-hour encounter, having previously beaten Gauff in straight sets at last month’s Australian Open quarter-finals.
Two-times Grand Slam champion Gauff struggled with double faults throughout the opening set as Svitolina seized control, breaking decisively to claim it 6-4.
Gauff roared back in the second set, displaying her trademark fighting spirit to force a tiebreak. The American saved four match points in a breathtaking 15-13 tiebreak thriller, keeping her hopes alive and electrifying the Dubai crowd.
The momentum swung back and forth in the decider, with the ninth game proving pivotal as it repeatedly went to deuce. Svitolina eventually held her nerve to edge ahead 5-4 before serving out the match to seal a hard-fought victory.
“I’m speechless after that fight. I was really trying to put myself out there, playing as if there was no tomorrow,” Svitolina said.
“It’s really special to be in the final again after a few years. Coco is such a big fighter. I was expecting her to come back in the match. She’s won so many big tournaments. I’m very pleased with the fight and the win,” she added.
Pegula stages comeback against Anisimova
World number six Anisimova took less than half an hour to win the first set before building a 3-1 lead in the second. But Pegula held her nerve and broke Anisimova three times in a row to win the second set, before securing victory in the decider.
“I held on to my serve there in the second set. I just kept telling myself that I had some break points in the first set, even though it was convincingly the other way, and I knew I could get some break points back,” 2024 US Open finalist Pegula said.
Pegula drew her opponent into longer rallies as she plotted her comeback, making Anisimova run back and forth with short slices and won the second set with a powerful backhand, as Anisimova’s hasty return went long.
An exhausted Anisimova found the net while attempting a drop shot, setting up Pegula’s break point to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the third set, clearing the path to her eighth WTA 1000 final.
Pegula shook off a first-set stumble to defeat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 1-6 6-4 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Svitolina secured her second consecutive victory over the world number four in a grueling three-hour encounter, having previously beaten Gauff in straight sets at last month’s Australian Open quarter-finals.
Two-times Grand Slam champion Gauff struggled with double faults throughout the opening set as Svitolina seized control, breaking decisively to claim it 6-4.
Gauff roared back in the second set, displaying her trademark fighting spirit to force a tiebreak. The American saved four match points in a breathtaking 15-13 tiebreak thriller, keeping her hopes alive and electrifying the Dubai crowd.
The momentum swung back and forth in the decider, with the ninth game proving pivotal as it repeatedly went to deuce. Svitolina eventually held her nerve to edge ahead 5-4 before serving out the match to seal a hard-fought victory.
“I’m speechless after that fight. I was really trying to put myself out there, playing as if there was no tomorrow,” Svitolina said.
“It’s really special to be in the final again after a few years. Coco is such a big fighter. I was expecting her to come back in the match. She’s won so many big tournaments. I’m very pleased with the fight and the win,” she added.
Pegula stages comeback against Anisimova
World number six Anisimova took less than half an hour to win the first set before building a 3-1 lead in the second. But Pegula held her nerve and broke Anisimova three times in a row to win the second set, before securing victory in the decider.
“I held on to my serve there in the second set. I just kept telling myself that I had some break points in the first set, even though it was convincingly the other way, and I knew I could get some break points back,” 2024 US Open finalist Pegula said.
Pegula drew her opponent into longer rallies as she plotted her comeback, making Anisimova run back and forth with short slices and won the second set with a powerful backhand, as Anisimova’s hasty return went long.
An exhausted Anisimova found the net while attempting a drop shot, setting up Pegula’s break point to take a decisive 3-1 lead in the third set, clearing the path to her eighth WTA 1000 final.
Latest updates
Recommended
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.