There is no such amateur club again!
On June 18, the Delay Sports page went online on Instagram. It is the new team of Elias Nerlich (24).
Nerlich is not just anyone: the ex-e-sportsman, FIFA computer streamer and entrepreneur has 856,000 followers on Instagram and 1.1 million subscribers on the Twitch streaming platform. From 2018 to 2021 was the face of Hertha’s eSports Academy.
Nerlich is now reconnecting the game on the pitch with his digital fame. He proudly announced that after a few days on Instagram, Delay Sports already has 294,000 followers, more than Bundesliga clubs Hertha (243,000) or Union (172,000)!
By the way, without being able to show a single competitive game so far!
On Saturday, Delay Sports played their first game in the club’s history: a test against B-League club Concordia Wilhelmsruh II (10th league), which Nerlich’s team won 5-1. 400 spectators, including around 300 delay fans, came for an entry fee of 3 euros!
Stewards had to shield Delay Sports’ dressing room. Nerlich played a few minutes in the second half before being forced to retire due to injury. After the game there was a pitch storm. The delay players willingly stood by for photos and autographs.
Nerlich isn’t the only familiar face on this crazy new team. The squad includes TikTok star Diyar Acar (678,000 followers), ex-professional Kevin Pannwitz (30) and ex-Herthan Sidney Friede (24).
Nerlich and Friede had the idea for the project. Nerlich on Kicker-TV: “We let the community decide what our name is, what the coat of arms looks like and what color the jersey is.”
Delay Sports should go up bit by bit. Nerlich: “With the current squad we could play district league.”
However, the club should also adhere to the requirements of the real world. At least two youth teams must be registered by June 30, 2024, which will take part in at least two full seasons in the Berlin game. Delay Sports must also provide evidence of two referees by the deadline.
Photo: Peter Mueller
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/nerlich-im-mai-bei-der-Event-bild-100-mit-oliver-bierhoff-970c7621be64498c9df8c1e1a6b0c61d-80657256/Bild/2. image.jpg”/> Nerlich in May at the “BILD 100” event with Oliver BierhoffPhoto: Peter Mueller
The team was clocked into the district league C (11th league) 2022/23 by the Berlin Football Association (BFV) with an exception, without – as otherwise required – having played in the leisure league three years earlier.
Because the BFV also wants to benefit from the reach of Delay Sports. The social media audience has jumped.
Malte Schruth (BFV presidential member for innovation, club and association development and qualification): “With his streams, club founder Elias Nerlich reaches millions of young people and young adults in Germany. If this attention is used for sustainable development and to promote social commitment, this is a gain for the club landscape in our city.”
And Nerlich’s goal with Delay Sports? In “BILD 100” he joked in May: “The goal is to beat Bayern, in the DFB Cup. The plan goes like this: We win the Berlin Cup and then play in the DFB Cup. Then Bayern, Julian Nagelsmann doesn’t have us on the screen and then we’ll knock them out…”
