Travelling with Lutz Pfannenstiel to India & back

A couple of weeks back I flew down from Germany for the 2nd FICCI Sports Summit 'Turf 2010' to New Delhi with my good old friend Lutz Pfannenstiel. And surely it was a trip to remember with all possible ups and downs.

Lutz and I have known each other for nearly a decade. It was actually an introduction through an email. Lutz, the only footballer to play in all of FIFA's six confederations, was interested to come and play in India. But it didn't work out then, still we remained in contact and over the years became friends. We have met again and again, but we met a lot over the last three month's due to work and Lutz was still interested to come to India as he is fascinated by our country. I kept that in mind and then suggested to the organisers at FICCI to use Lutz's knowledge for the sports summit and they agreed, so Lutz was on the flight with me.

As a former footballer and now coach Lutz travels a lot, so getting an Indian visa wasn't the easiest task due to time constraints, so getting the visa became part of our journey. Our travel started early on Tuesday morning, September 28. Lutz picked me up in his car at 07.00 h and we had a two hour drive ahead of us down to Frankfurt to hand in Lutz's papers for the visa at the Indian consulate. The drive took us a little longer, so we handed in Lutz's passport just before 10.00 h. The officer at the consulate told us to come back around 13.00 h as we told him our Emirates flight would leave Frankfurt at 15.25 h that day, so we needed the passport back asap. We went out of for a coffee on a gloomy day in Frankfurt. We were back by 12.45 h, but we didn't get the passport back before 13.40 h and I was getting a little nervous if we would make it for our flight. In the end we did get onto our flight and we were on our way to India.

After a short stopover in Dubai we landed in Delhi at the new Terminal 3 on Wednesday morning. Lutz's first impression like many newcomers these days to Delhi was great. A drive through town and we were at our hotel, the Oberoi. A short rest, the chance to freshen up and then we went through our presentations giving it final touches before the sports summit the next couple of days. We went on a little tour of Delhi before we had early dinner and went to sleep early to be fresh the next morning as we were a little tired after the long journey.

On Thursday, September 30 we got up early, had early breakfast and then where driven across to FICCI House for the opening of the 2nd FICCI Sports Summit 'Turf 2010'. I am now used to this carnival like atmosphere at opening of such events in India when important people are around. For Lutz it was new and he seemed surprised at what was happening infront and around him when Commonwealth Games organising committee president Suresh Kalmadi and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda entered the room. Their entourage, security plus media made it look like a circus for someone like Lutz, who simply sat in his chair and watched with a grin in his face. He whispered across to me, "can't they take it easy." And I replied, "sadly they can't."

After the introductory speaches it was time for the sessions and I was on the first one titled "Changing Face of Indian Sports", while Lutz had to wait until the afternoon to be part of the session named "Sports for All". And there Lutz came to life explaining how youth development in football around the world is organised or often not really organised. He spoke about the German system and help that the German FA was offering, besides the example of the German Goalkeeper Academy which focused solely on goalkeepers. Lutz was involved in a discussion with the other panelists and thereafter held small talk with interested persons.

Lutz also talked about his charity project Global United FC in which footballers fight climate change and global warming, which I personally find very interesting and fascinating. In GUFC more then 300 former professional footballers from around the world have come together to play charity and friendly matches to raise fund and awareness about the problems of climate change. And not do the footballers play their matches around the world, but when in a certain region or city they go into schools to try and educate the kids about the topic. I hope we will soon have a charity match of Global United FC in India to highlight India's dangers due to climate change and global warming

Day two was more of listening for us and interacting with people. Lutz often was asked about Germany's surprisingly positive performances in South Africa. And as Lutz had been in South Africa as a television expert for Germany's ZDF he could speak about stories first hand.

The way back on Saturday was another highlight. We had our flight out of Delhi at 11.00 h, but I had an 08.00 h breakfast meeting which I had to have before I left Delhi, but at the time Lutz didn't know where he would fly to. He only had the Delhi to Dubai sector confirmed. So would he fly back with me to Frankfurt or over to Johannesburg, South Africa for a coaching assignment? He tried sorting it over the phone at night, but it didn't work so it had to be done at the airport. I checked in my luggage, got my boarding pass and it was about 70 minutes before the flight. Lutz was asked at the counter to speak with the office over the phone and sort out where his connection flight would go. Lutz wanted to fly to Johannesburg, but the ticket wasn't confirmed though booked. About 50 minutes before the flight I was asked to go in while Lutz was still working on where to go. I went through immigration and security, took my seat on the aircraft and while I was texting Lutz to find out if he was joining me or taking a later flight out of Delhi, he suddenly turns up and by chance gets the seat next to me on a fully booked flight. But now Lutz had only a ticket until Dubai and he would have to try and sort out his ticket to Johannedburg or join me on my flight to Frankfurt in Dubai, but he had about 90 minutes which is tight at the now bigger Dubai Terminal 3. I went to my flight to Frankfurt when I got the text message from Lutz saying, "I made it to the Johannesburg flight!"

It was an enjoyable and interesting five days with Lutz, but I don't need the unnecessary tension at the airports. I love to check in on time and enjoy myself close to the gate with a cappuccino or hot chocolate. And surely India would welcome Lutz back again, but maybe next time our travel will be a little less stressful. I hope you are listening Lutz...