Heidenheim's Dinkçi: Goal is for partner diagnosed with leukaemia

Heidenheim's Eren Dinkci scores his side's second goal of the game during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and FC St. Pauli at Voith-Arena. Tom Weller/dpa

Eren Dinkçi has dedicated his goal in Heidenheim's 2-0 Bundesliga victory over St Pauli to his partner who has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Dinkçi, who is at Heidenheim on loan from Freiburg, provided the final score in the match where bottom club Heidenheim would have been relegated if they had lost.

Dinkçi said last week in a joint statement from Heidenheim and Freiburg that his partner, Cinja, was diagnosed with leukaemia in January.

"The goal is for her, that's clear. And I hope she was happy and that the goal gives her a little bit of strength," Dinkçi said.

Looking at himself, he said: "Of course such a goal give strength."

There was no suitable donor within the family which prompted going public with the help of the clubs and the German Bone Marrow Donor Registry (DKMS). Finding a stem cell donor is a last chance for many people suffering from leukaemia to survive the illness.

Potential donors could register at last week's Freiburg v Heidenheim game and again on Saturday, with Heidenheim naming the response "overwhelming."

"I am happy that we were able to set up such a thing in the world of football," Dinkçi said.

Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt said it was only fitting that Dinkçi decided the match.

“He manages to clear his head for a little while during training and in matches. You can achieve anything if you stick together, and that’s why it’s so emotional,” Schmidt said.