SPECIAL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Inclusion team
KAS Eupen & ZFP Eupen

The KAS Eupen inclusion team, in cooperation with the Center for Special Education (ZFP Eupen), is a joint project that was founded as part of the #morethanfootball social initiative. The aim is to enable young people with and without disabilities to participate, develop team spirit, and engage in international encounters through soccer.

The team is made up of players aged 16 to 18 and trains weekly under the guidance of Zeno Mennicken (KAS and ZFP Eupen) and ZFP sports teacher Andreas Jähnert. In addition to promoting sports, the focus is on social integration, personal development, and shared experiences.

Participation in international tournaments

In recent years, the inclusion team has already participated in several international tournaments organized by the European Football for Development Network (EFDN) – an EU-funded network that promotes inclusion in sport across Europe.

Highlights to date have included the Special Champions League tournaments in Lisbon, Leverkusen, and most recently in Breda (Netherlands) from May 28 to 30, 2024. There, the Eupen team faced renowned clubs such as Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen, NEC Nijmegen, and NAC Breda. The program was rounded off by an exciting playoff game in Breda, a city rally, and a sports day at the NAC Breda stadium – all in glorious sunshine.

In June 2025, the team also took part in the international tournament in Cologne and supported the Red Devils live in the stadium during their European Championship game against Romania.

Football as a bridge between people

Previous participation has impressively demonstrated how strongly football connects people—across borders, languages, and personal circumstances. All events focused on togetherness: young people with and without disabilities from different countries came together to share an unforgettable experience.

We are proud of the commitment and enthusiasm of our inclusion team and look forward to many more sporting and human encounters.