Bayer Leverkusen in Florida: Alligator antics and old friends

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Orlando - Bayer 04 Leverkusen's preparations for the resumption of the Bundesliga season - and that mouthwatering clash at home to Borussia Dortmund on 31 January - continue apace in far-off Florida.

Thrill-seeking Calhanoglu

In the Sunshine State since 8 January for their winter training camp as part of the Bundesliga World Tour 2015, Leverkusen have so far enjoyed peak conditions in which to resume their training after the festive break. Their locale also leaves plenty of time for activities unrelated to football, though.

As is the wont of a free-kick specialist, Turkey playmaker

Hakan Calhanoglu

has spent time after each training exercise practicing his set pieces. Between sessions, however, the 20-year-old also found time to go exploring the local area in search of wildlife, and it was there that he, Giulio Donati, Roberto Hilbert and Karim Bellarabi came across an alligator. "We took some bits of melon with us and threw them in a pond," said the former Hamburger SV star excitedly. "We weren't sure if there were any alligators in there but one came out of nowhere and grabbed the food!" The four adventurers apparently then returned to base at the Omni Orlando resort via their golf biggie post haste.