In January 2019, a group of 22 amateur footballers from Vienna, Austria, arrived in Brazil to find themselves greeted at the airport by samba dancers and professional drummers. The DSG Magic Unicorns, a recreational club playing in the lower tiers of the Viennese church-league system, were treated like international stars throughout their ten-day training camp, receiving police escorts for their bus journeys and coverage from local Brazilian radio stations.
From a Charity Event to a Brazilian Training Camp
The journey from the fields of Vienna to the streets of Brazil began four years prior, in 2015, during a charity event organized by the club. The Magic Unicorns, founded in 2011, collaborated with celebrities and former professional players to raise 10,000 euros for the “Pequeno Nazareno” children’s home in Brazil. According to reports from 90minuten.at, the connection was personal: club founder and president Philipp Grünbacher is half-Brazilian and has maintained long-standing ties to the country, visiting annually to see family.
The Utopian Logistics of an Amateur Tour
The idea of taking a hobbyist team to South America for a training camp was initially met with skepticism, even from within the organization. Grünbacher admitted in a conversation with 90minuten.at that the plan seemed “very utopian” when he first proposed it to his teammates. The DSG-Liga, which serves as the foundation of the Archdiocese of Vienna’s football structure, is typically characterized by local, grassroots competition rather than international travel. Despite the amateur status of the squad, the logistical reality of the 2019 tour—including the police-escorted transport—elevated the club’s profile significantly during their stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DSG league system? The DSG-Liga is a recreational football framework managed by the Archdiocese of Vienna, serving as a grassroots foundation for amateur players in the Austrian capital.
How did the club fund their 2019 trip? While the club is known for its fundraising efforts—notably the 10,000 euros raised for the “Pequeno Nazareno” home—the specific financial breakdown of the team’s personal travel costs for the 2019 training camp was not disclosed.
Are the Magic Unicorns still active? Founded in 2011, the club continues to operate as an amateur entity within the Viennese football landscape, maintaining the recreational focus that defined their early years.
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