++ U23 REPLACES MAIFELD-ELZTAL WITH TOP PLAYER IN THE THIRD GAME ++
The Ahrweiler BC U23 enters the third round of the Kreisliga A with a lot of confidence. On Sunday (15:00), the team coached by Ricardo Ribeiro and Tobias Roth will host SG Maifeld-Elztal at the central field in Bad Neuenahr.
Both teams faced each other in the Bezirksliga last season, but had to accept relegation. The direct clashes ended in a draw at the time – an ABC home win 2-0 and a 1-2 defeat in the return match.
The young ABC team has set off the season perfectly with six points from the first two matches. Especially the 3:2 away victory last weekend against SG Ettringen underlined the strong early form. Opponent Maifeld-Elztal showed an impressive reaction after a clear opening defeat in Bad Breisig (2:5) and recently celebrated a 6:0 victory against Dernau.
However, the U23 team will have to do without several players. In addition to Adlin Dervishi, Ibrahim Sleei, Gabriel Wüst and Lukas Adenauer, Michel Wagneder, Besmir Bajcinca, Benedikt Ferber and Jonas Adams are also not available.
Despite the strained staffing situation, head coach Ribeiro looks forward to the home game with confidence: “We expect an intense game against an opponent with great team spirit. The important thing is that we carry out our plan and put our stamp on the game. We are focusing primarily on ourselves.”
The team is looking forward to the support of numerous spectators in order to further build on the successful start to the season.
++ U19: PREPARATION FOR THE RHEINLAND LEAGUE ++
The U19 team of the Ahrweiler BC starts the new season on Saturday – for the first time under the coaching duo of Maxwell Lunga and Rainard Schulz.
With the coaching duo of Maxwell Lunga and Rainard Schulz on the sidelines, a gradual development is to be initiated that will lead in the long term towards the regional league.
Although the team only managed to win one match in the pre-season, Lunga highlighted the positive development within the team. All the test matches were deliberately played against strong opponents from the Mittelrhein Football Association – with the aim of bringing the players up to a higher level early on.
The opener is up next for FC Metternich. Although the opponent has been watched in training, the management expects a match of equal quality. “A 50:50 game,” said team coordinator Markus Tempel. In the last season, the matches between the two clubs ended with a defeat (0:4) and a draw (3:3).
Lunga will have to do without several players for the start, yet the squad of 27 players offers ample options. After a brief but intensive preparation, the team's coaches attribute high training intensity, great motivation and a steep learning curve.
We wish you all the best for the start of the season – get to work, guys!!