For all soccer fans November 10th 2009 was a horrible day that shocked Germany and the rest of many soccer interested countries. Robert Enke, national goalkeeper and captain of his Mannschaft (team) Hannover 96 committed suicide due to depressions that he was suffering from for many years.

 

He kept his Krankheit (disease) hidden from the public and only his Ehefrau (wife)  Theresa and closest friends knew, which is why everybody was devastated by the sad news. Robert Enke was nowhere near as glamorous or controversial as other soccer players like David Beckham, Oliver Kahn or Eric Cantona. His lifestyle was einfach (simple) and instead of having a penthouse in the most expensive part of Hannover he lived on his little Bauernhof (farm) where he and his wife took care of abandoned animals.

 

The German Bundesliga and its fans experienced a lot of grieve but also came together in honoring and remembering this down to earth guy who was simply sick but too embarrassed to actually consider the right Behandlung (treatment) which would have put his soccer career in jeopardy which he feared.

 

Since his death his team Hannover 96 has lost eight games and tied one. The team is playing against the Abstieg (relegation) and will most likely lost that fight. Robert Enke will always be remembered in Germany as the good Kumpel (pal) who you just wanted to be your friend and who did not care about any kind of self glorification. Depressions took a great person from us all.   

 

Die Mannschaft – the team

Die Krankheit – the disease

Die Ehefrau – the wife

Einfach – simple

Der Bauernhof – the farm

Die Bundesliga – First German soccer division

Die Behandlung – the treatment

Der Abstieg – relegation

Der Kumpel – good friend, pal

Die Tochter – the daughter

Post from: German Blog