HEIDENHEIM, Germany — Heidenheim forward Eren Dinkci struggled to hold back tears amid jubilant fans celebrating the team’s victory, as his thoughts were with his girlfriend, who is battling leukemia.
“This goal is for her, without a doubt,” the 24-year-old Dinkci shared following Heidenheim’s 2-0 triumph over St. Pauli in the Bundesliga match on Saturday. “I hope it brought her some joy and gives her a little strength.”
Currently on loan from Freiburg, Dinkci disclosed earlier this month on both clubs’ websites that his girlfriend, Cinja, has leukemia and may require a stem cell transplant.
To support the cause, Heidenheim launched a campaign in partnership with DKMS, a German-founded international charity dedicated to aiding those with blood cancer and related disorders, encouraging people to sign up as stem cell donors. During the previous weekend’s match in Freiburg, approximately 688 individuals registered, with more expected to do so during Saturday’s match in Heidenheim.
In a statement released on Heidenheim’s website, both Dinkci and Cinja emphasized that their initiative wasn’t solely about their own situation but stemmed from their experiences with other patients, inspiring them to assist others in need.
Heidenheim’s coach, Frank Schmidt, remarked that it was fitting for Dinkci to score the decisive goal that secured the team’s victory.
“It’s a story that resonates deeply in Germany and beyond; it touches me as well,” Schmidt noted. “Eren has an exceptional opportunity through his influence to assist not just his family and girlfriend but also many others. The impact has been clearly felt today and last week.”
“Above all, we’re not merely footballers or coaches; we are human beings.”
Currently sitting at the bottom of the Bundesliga, Heidenheim’s victory over St. Pauli has temporarily staved off relegation.