Last Friday evening, the Duisburg City Sports Association selected the athletes of the year for the 2023 / 2024 season in front of around 1,500 spectators at the Theater am Marientor.

The Rhein Fire footballers were nominated for the first time and took home the award in two categories. Rhein Fire was named "Team of the Year" for its performance in the outstanding 2023 season, when it brought the unbeaten European League of Football title back to the Rhine. Fire was already considered the favourite before the season, but head coach Jim Tomsula's team pulled off a start-to-finish victory that even the organization had not expected.

Tomsula, who has been coaching the team since 2022 and has formed a very special team from many individual parts that not only won the title in 2023, but also defended it in 2024, also received a second award.

Unfortunately, Tomsula was unable to attend the award ceremony in person for family reasons, but sent a video message from his home in Florida in which - as is customary for him - he did not want to take the credit for himself alone, but referred to the players, coaches and the many helpers who made the success possible in the first place.