Bundesliga goal-scorer Eren Dinkçi expresses heartfelt gratitude to Freiburg and Heidenheim fans for help with DKMS drive

The response to Eren Dinkçi’s appeal

Nearly 700 Freiburg supporters signed up days after Dinkçi’s appeal. Heidenheim supporters – given the chance to register on Saturday – have pushed registration numbers on Cinja’s page close to 1,400. DKMS official Christian Wehrfeld (quoted by Kicker) noted that “largest registration campaign in the past ten years in connection with a Bundesliga match” left his organization “overwhelmed by the tremendous response and the strong sense of solidarity.“

“I felt a great deal of support and willingness to help,” Dinkçi himself noted in a statement released on the Freiburg website earlier this week. “Many people approached me. Together with Cinja, I would like to thank all the fans who have informed themselves about the topic in recent days and registered.”

Dinçki thanks Freiburg and Heidenheim fans

“Today’s goal was absolutely dedicated to her,” Dinkçi – making no effort to hold back tears – told DAZN after today’s game. “I hope she enjoyed it and it gave her a little strength. I’m so glad that we could get the registration campaign kick-started in this world of football.”

Heidenheim express support for Dinkçi

“He’s been going through a lot personally lately and we’re doing our best to support him as a team,” Dinkçi’s teammate Niklas Dorsch added in the mixed zone. “He’s a truly lionhearted lad and I’m very happy for him.“

“He manages to clear his head for a bit in training and during the matches,” FCH head coach Frank Schmidt added in his own post-match interview. “It’s understandably an emotional topic; the fact that we can achieve a lot if we stick together.“

GGFN | Peter Weis