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In a surprising turn of events, a team of waste collectors and street cleaners from the Essen waste management operations has made history by winning the prestigious NRW Entsorger Cup, the championship for waste management workers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
The triumphant team, which includes 32-year-old Mohamed Allouche, a dedicated waste collector, overcame AWISTA Düsseldorf's company sports team in the nail-biting NRW cup final, securing a 1:0 victory.
Mohamed, who also plays for SC Frintrop in the Kreisliga A, expressed his delight at the team's success, comparing their lowest level to that of the Kreisliga B. He acknowledged the quality of his teammates, noting their dedication and skill on the field.
The team's journey to victory was marked by a pizza dinner hosted by the waste management operations, a celebration of their double tournament victory. Among the experienced footballers who made up the Essen team were Kevin Barra, a long-time top technician in Essen's Oberliga football, who has worked at FC Kray and Schonnebeck, and is now at SV Burgaltendorf.
Nick Hillmann, with Oberliga experience with Niederwenigern, and Yusuf Allouche, Mohamed's brother, who was a promising striker for Rot-Weiss Essen in his youth and currently plays for SC Oberhausen 20 in the Bezirksliga, were also part of the winning team. Marcel Schlomm, who came from the RWE youth and was active at SpVg Schonnebeck, rounded out the impressive lineup.
The team was put together by the works council from interested employees, a testament to the passion for football within the waste management operations. Notably, Ismail Remmo, who recently promoted with SSVg Velbert to the Regionalliga, was also part of the Essen team.
Despite the team's success, there is little information available about the specific company name or team associated with the waste management operations in Essen. A search for notable footballers in company sports teams linked to waste management companies in Essen did not yield any results, suggesting that the Essen team's victory may be a first for such a team.
However, Mohamed Allouche, the team's standout player, attributed his football success to his job in waste management, stating that the daily outdoor activity and motion it provides has a positive effect on his performance.
The victory of the Essen waste management team in the NRW Entsorger Cup serves as a reminder that football is a sport for all, and that passion and dedication can lead to success, regardless of one's profession.
Mohamed Allouche, despite his profession as a waste collector, also plays for a team, SC Frintrop, in the Kreisliga A, a league lower than the European leagues like the Champions League, emphasizing that football is indeed a sport for all.
The Essen waste management team's victory in the NRW Entsorger Cup opens up a possibility for similar teams in European sports leagues, such as the Champions League, as their triumph proves that passion and dedication can lead to success, regardless of one's profession.
