If I had known that…
At the end of October 2021 I was at home with my great idol and role model in Norderstedt for the last time. Uwe Seeler’s 85th birthday was imminent and “us” Uwe and his wonderful wife Ilka invited me, the BILD reporter Babak Milani, to an interview with coffee and butter cake at their family table.
Actually, the greatest Hamburg footballer of all time only had 20 minutes for me because other appointments were pressing.
But in the Seelers’ cozy conservatory, things went on as so often before. Uwe, Ilka and I not only chatted about HSV, defeats or the dismissal of coaches, but increasingly about family, God and the world.
And our very happy encounters seldom lasted less than two hours. And not once did I see this great person complaining about his recent numerous accidents or physical ailments. His favorite sentence on this tiresome topic was always: “Indians know no pain”.
On the other hand, the absence of this impeccable sportsman and – even more importantly – the great human being will cause me pain.
In the end, however, the great memories of Uwe prevail for me, whom pretty much everyone who got to know him has taken directly to their hearts. I am very proud and happy that I had the honor of getting to know and experiencing the “fat man”.
Without Uwe, the football world has become much sadder for me from now on…
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