Ruben Sanabria was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1970 but has lived in Paraguay since 1979. With his PhD in veterinary sciences, Sanabria currently serves as Technical Manager & Nutritionist (poultry) at Granja Avicola La Blanca S.A. in Paraguay. He has been a fan of Borussia Dortmund since 2011. 

When and why did you become a Borussia Dortmund fan? 
I really enjoy football and play with my friends and former high school classmates every Saturday and Sunday. When I was studying, I played in the university amateur league as a goalkeeper indoors and as a forward outdoors. We were the national champions at the time. 

I became a Borussia Dortmund fan in 2011 when Jürgen “Revolution” Klopp breathed new life into the game. My favorite players on that team were striker Lucas Barrios because he is from Paraguay, Mats Hummels as defender and Mario Götze, who is one of the most complete midfielders I’ve ever seen. One of the best things about Borussia Dortmund is the fans who are simply awesome. The flags, the chanting, the colors in the stadium – it all adds up to an incredible atmosphere at every game. 

What was the most exciting Borussia Dortmund game you’ve ever watched?  
The most thrilling was the 5–2 win against Bayern Munich in the 2012 DFB Cup final. I watched that game at my parents’ home together with my whole family. We had a very big barbecue after that victory! 

Have you ever been to Signal Iduna Park? How do you keep up to date with Borussia Dortmund in Paraguay?  
I haven’t been to Dortmund yet. But I hope to go some day. If I ever get the chance to travel to Germany, I’ll definitely go to a game with my son. I keep up to date with Borussia Dortmund news and results by watching Fox Sports at home in Villa Elisa City near Asuncion – Paraguay’s capital – with my 17-year-old son Tobias or via the Internet.

What is Borussia Dortmund’s standing in Paraguay compared to Bayern Munich and other European clubs?
Barcelona was the most popular European football club before Messi went to Paris Saint-Germain. That’s because both the Fox Sports and ESPN channels, which broadcast European football, are based in Argentina. Bayern Munich is still the most popular German team in Paraguay, with Borussia Dortmund in second place.

Is there a Borussia Dortmund fan club in Paraguay? 
No, unfortunately not yet. I think that’s because currently there aren’t any Paraguayan players in the Bundesliga. If others were to follow in Lucas Barrios’ or Nelson Haedo Valdez’ footsteps, that might boost the number of Borussia Dortmund fans here. And then I would love to be president of the first Borussia Dortmund fan club in Paraguay …
Interview: Uwe Schedlbauer

In this section, our main sponsor Evonik, who supports us at all of our international games, lets soccer fans who feel close to Borussia Dortmund but live nowhere near SIGNAL IDUNA PARK have their say.

Goal-scorer Lucas Barrios and relentless striker Nelson Valdez are two Paraguayan players who still have a place in many Borussia Dortmund fans’ hearts. For years now, the poultry industry in Paraguay, where Ruben Sanabria works, has been pushing forward just as tenaciously – to the extent that the number of farmers and egg producers have increased steadily. Essen-based specialty chemicals giant Evonik not only supplies the appropriate feed throughout South America but has developed additives that make poultry farming more sustainable because the animals receive an optimized diet. What’s more, thanks to health-promoting probiotics designed especially for chickens, farmers can largely avoid using antibiotics. To achieve this, Evonik works with experts around the world. After all, specialists are in demand everywhere, not just in the forward line.