DOHA (Qatar): Bayern Munich super fan Michael Zeman wants to return home with the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Bavarian club is up against in tonight’s final against Mexico’s Tigres.
“It will be a fantastic feeling to see Bayern lift the trophy at Education City Stadium on Thursday. It will be the sixth title of the season and like all fans it will be time for celebration, as no other team except Barcelona have come to winning so many titles in a single season,” said Zeman.
The 55-year-old is not an ordinary fan, he literally carries Bayern club load on his shoulder and follows the Bavarian side to countries across the globe.
His outfit consists of a shawl with about 100 patches, fan trousers with about 60 patches, about 40 scarfs around his arms and a 3.50
“I watched the other semifinal which Tigres won. They are a good team and have a good forward Frenchman (André-Pierre Gignac), so it will be a good match,” added Zeman.
The Erftstadt native, a Bayern fan for more than four decades could not make it to the Champions League final in Lisbon when Bayern defeated PSG to win the European title, which was held without crowds.
The Club World Cup, a tournament contested by continental winners, is held with 30 percent spectators and Zeman is the only German who has been allowed to enter Qatar.
“As per my knowledge I am the only one who has travelled from German to Qatar for the FIFA Club World Cup. All other Bayern fans attending the matches are living here in Qatar,” he said.
The German is not new to Qatar having travelled to the country earlier but all his earlier visits have been to watch his favourite club Bayern train in Qatar during the winter training camps.
On Tuesday February 9, Zeman watched Bayern beat Al Ahly Egypt 2-0, his first match in Qatar.
“I travelled on a metro for the first time, and it was an absolutely fantastic feeling the country is changing quickly and to see the amazing stadiums was a delight,” he said about Qatar’s 2022 World Cup preparations.
Zeman, who was unsure of making the trip to Qatar a few weeks before the event with the Covid19 travel restrictions in place, is delighted that he was able to watch after a gap of almost 11 months.
“My last match was on March 8, 2020 when Bayern played against Augsburg and we won 2-0. Games at home are always a highlight! Allianz Arena is a special place,” he said.
“When they told me that I can make the trip to Qatar, I was over the moon,” said Zeman, who reached Qatar on February 2 and was quarantine at a special designated hotel.
