Last Friday, Julian Hilberath was bid farewell as youth coach of Ahrweiler BC. The club icon was most recently responsible for the sporting affairs of the D-Juniors playing in the Bezirksliga.
Club president Torsten Schweigert found the right words for the departing coach at the Ahrweiler Ahrstadion. It was precisely at the Ahrstadion, the cradle of Ahrweiler BC, so to speak, where the 38-year-old Hilberath's passion and love for football began. Working in the youth department was a constant companion for Hilberath during his approximately 30 years as an active player for the district capital club. The striker, who never skipped an age group from the A-Juniors to the E-Juniors and had a built-in guarantee of scoring, always left a mark of success. The seasonal goals, as well as the sporting and personal development of the young male and female players, were always impressive. This was also true of his very pleasant, responsible, and trustworthy way of dealing with his protégés. "My son has regained his enjoyment of football with Julian as his coach," said a player's mother from the current D-Juniors squad.
The extent of Hilberath's involvement is also evidenced by the fact that his successor, Marino Hofmann, benefited from his predecessor's coaching skills as an active youth player at ABC. It seems unrealistic to assume anything other than a break in his tenure as an ABC youth coach. A comeback on the sidelines for the young ABC players is likely only a matter of time. "Up to this point, we want to say a very big thank you to Julian Hilberath for his excellent work in our youth department. Fortunately, contact on the field won't completely disappear, as he will remain with us as a coach for our popular soccer holiday camps," said youth manager Gerd Treffer.