⚽ GISS Football Academy Launch Week – Youth Development Partner of Borussia Dortmund ⚽

What an incredible week of football, learning, and community at GISS!

We were honoured to welcome a special guest from Borussia Dortmund to celebrate the launch with our school and wider community. Their visit brought the spirit and expertise of BVB right to Sydney – inspiring our students, connecting with parents, and sharing in the excitement of building something truly special for the future of youth football in Australia.

We kicked things off with an inspiring panel discussion in our Sports Hall, featuring:
• Paul Lambert, Borussia Dortmund legend, UEFA Champions League winner & Technical Director BVB APAC
• Christian Diercks, Managing Director, BVB Football Academy
• Felix Schwarz, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sydney
• Alexander Baumjohann, former Bundesliga & A-League player, now Head of Player Development at Sydney FC
• Joe Lacey, Sydney FC midfielder, with the club since U13

Together, they explored “The Power of Football – Beyond the Pitch”, highlighting how sport can shape resilience, teamwork, leadership, and cultural exchange.

The celebrations continued with our Gala Harbour Cruise, where guests, partners, and friends of GISS enjoyed a night on Sydney Harbour in true black-and-yellow style.

The week rolled on with a series of student workshops on the Winning Mindset – on and off the pitch, as well as career pathway sessions
showing routes into football and the wider sports industry. Parents also joined dedicated information sessions to learn more about the programme.

And of course, the moment everyone was waiting for — the very first training sessions with our UEFA-licensed BVB coach, Benjamin Galant, giving students hands-on experience in world-class football development.

As Christian Diercks said:

“Our aim isn’t just to find talent – it’s to give all children the chance to develop their skills, grow as individuals, and most importantly, have fun. We’re building a sporting ecosystem that supports them for the long term – whether or not they become professionals.”

💛🖤 A truly unforgettable start to a new chapter of football at GISS!