The people of Chemnitz don't really need to talk negatively about their city

Rico Bach

Next Saturday, 7 p.m., Chemnitz Arena, NINERS vs. Rockets Gotha.
The biggest basketball game the city of Chemnitz has ever seen and everyone is hoping for another home win for the Chemnitz team, who can thus further consolidate their position in the play-off places. For Rico Bach, however, it's not just the result that matters on this day. Although the agency owner is a big NINERS fan, he has more in common with the NINERS Christmas game: together with his colleagues from the non-profit organisation "unikero e.V.", he is raising money for disadvantaged children with the support of the basketball players.

What can people imagine when they hear the name "unikero e.V."?
Rico Bach: It's an association that collects donations to make things or certain activities possible for disadvantaged children in Saxony. One of the association's main sources of income is the auctioning of individual items from celebrities. Hence the name: Unikero is derived from the words "Unique" and "Hero", which means unique and hero. We want unique pieces from the heroes, so to speak. For example, football boots from national team player Marco Reus, jerseys from Borussia Dortmund, Mönchengladbach or Chemnitzer FC and items from the Chemnitz NINERS basketball team. No matter which athlete, which singer, which personality, fans can bid for these unique items. The money then goes to charitable causes that we determine with our partners.

Why did you found the association?
The idea came in 2011 and we founded the association in 2013. The original idea was to work with the German Football Association to approach clubs from the Bundesliga who would donate jerseys to us. We wanted to use this to collect donations for homes, clubs and organisations. This idea was not supported by the DFB. We put it in the drawer and only took it out again in 2013 because I saw the need to support the parents' association for children with cancer in Chemnitz. Due to my son's illness, I came into contact with children who were in a really bad way. That motivated me to give something back to children. My son has now beaten the disease.

Who is involved in the organisation?
There are currently eleven active members in our non-profit organisation. First and foremost, people from our advertising agency and "outsiders" who have heard about it and are interested in the whole story. It's a small team, but that's what makes it so flexible. There are many people who can and want to help. You just have to bring them together.

How has the response been from celebrities who have been approached by you?
Those we have approached so far have always agreed and given us something. Whether it was Michael Ballack with a plaster cast of a hand or speed skater Nico Ihle, who gave us a pair of glasses. There is always a willingness to help.

Which children can benefit from your auctions and how?
Children with disabilities; children who come to us from another country; children who have no money. We approach organisations or homes and either give them a donation, which is gratefully received, or we ask if there is anything we can support. Or we ask whether there are any projects that need support. Perhaps a playground that needs to be built, renovation work that needs to be done or an excursion that is not yet fully funded. These are all things that we are happy to support.

But it is not only homes and organisations that benefit from the "unikero funds". The association has recently joined forces with the city sports association to give children access to sport. "Sport opens an incredible number of doors," explains Rico Bach, adding: "It breaks down inhibitions and prejudices and allows people who don't have such a happy everyday life to forget it for a few hours." The aim is to familiarise children with club sport and thus better integrate them into society. For example, club fees are to be paid or transport services organised. This is where the state aid for this ends. "The city sports association puts us in touch with clubs where parents might need help and we work with them to find a solution so that the child can continue to enjoy sport.

What has been auctioned off so far?
Including skis from ski jumper Richard Freitag, wrestling trousers from John Klinger, a rucksack from David Storl, goalkeeper gloves from Phillip Pentke and a helmet from Max Neukirchner.

The highest bid?
The shoes worn by shot putter David Storl during his 2013 world championship defence in Moscow. They fetched 350 euros and went to Italy. That was the most expensive of the small items.

On Saturday, "unikero e.V." will once again be making a high-profile appearance in the city. But the aim is not just to raise money. "We wrote to institutions, clubs and organisations in advance who would like to experience a basketball game like this with their children but can't afford it. They were able to contact us, we make it possible for them to take part, cover the catering and, if they don't know how to get to the arena, we also organise a pick-up service. We also give them a NINERS fan scarf as a small gift," explains Rico Bach. There will be around 70-100 kids among the several thousand spectators, who will certainly be watching this major event with shining eyes.

Why did you choose the NINERS game as the highlight of the year?
Firstly, we already did it once last year. At our club meetings, we discussed the fact that we needed a "pulling event" to draw attention to ourselves. An event that takes place every year and where we get new things to auction off. Secondly, it will be the most popular basketball game in the history of Chemnitz. As we love this sport and have an excellent working relationship with the NINERS, it's a great thing.

What is planned?
The jerseys that the basketball players will be wearing on the day will have a special print and will only be produced and worn by the players for the one game. They are virtually unique and can already be bid for on our homepage.

Are you raising money on the day through the jersey auction?
Through that and donations. We wrote to our customers from the agency, told them about the basketball game and what we were planning to do there. And asked them for a donation.

How much did the Christmas game raise last year?
Around 2,500 euros. We'd like to top that.

Who will benefit?
Last year, half went to the Indira Ghandi Children's Home and the other half to the Parents' Association for Children with Cancer.
We think that this year we will continue to promote access to sport for children with our project. It's not just about children from socially disadvantaged families, but also about children with physical disabilities, including wheelchair users. The NINERS are predestined for this with their wheelchair basketball section. But it is also about the currently very controversial topic of integrating refugee children. We also want to tackle this issue and say: there are children who want and need to be integrated. We want to help. Sport promotes integration. And we use our network to do so.

Is Chemnitz basketball a national role model?
It's true that the club is a big name in the league it plays in. They not only step on the gas on the basketball court, but also off it. That impresses me. They have just as many plans for their club as we do for ours. That's why we really enjoy working with them.

Are people from Chemnitz particularly selfless or do they tend to be particularly charitable?
Chemnitz residents definitely help. That is true. You just have to do a lot of educational work with the people of Chemnitz, you have to explain to them what you are doing it for, where the money is going and yet they are sceptical citizens. They're not always as euphoric as you'd like them to be sometimes, but once you've got them, it's all good. Then they definitely go along with it and do things reliably. But you actually have to pick them up a bit, educate them and take them along on the journey.

You have an advertising and marketing agency in Chemnitz that is behind Unikero. Is there a particular reason for that? Is Chemnitz particularly creative?
Chemnitz has its own flair, Chemnitz has its own target group and the people who founded the agency back then didn't want to leave the city. We grew up here, the connection to the city is there and as young people we feel at home here. We want to develop the city and continue to grow together with it. That's why the agency is rooted in Chemnitz, has grown here and is an integral part of the city's agency landscape. Chemnitz may not have the same creative flair as Hamburg, Berlin or Munich, and perhaps not like Dresden either, but it has its very own clientele and its own approach to work. We feel quite comfortable with the situation.

As a native of Chemnitz, do you sometimes have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Actually, the people of Chemnitz don't need to talk negatively about their city. For example, customers of ours who come from Bavaria are surprised every time anew at what a beautiful city it is. That's why I think the people of Chemnitz should be more self-confident about their city. The image that people in the city have of themselves is wrong. The image of the city from the outside is not like that. That's why I'm not saying they need to encourage themselves, but rather see the city with different eyes. Take a conscious look at the city and leave your own prejudices behind.