The U19 team of Ahrweiler BC begins their Rheinlandliga season today with an away game against JFV Rhein-Hunsrück. This season will be anything but a sprint for the team led by head coach Timo Uhlendahl and his coaching staff – assistant and goalkeeper coach Daniel Debus and manager Heidi Schulze. Instead, the team faces a season-long marathon.
The omens for the season are mixed: while Uhlendahl aims for a spot in the upper mid-table, he also faces a challenge. The older age group (2006) is underrepresented with only nine players in the 22-man squad. This means that a significant portion of the squad consists of younger players (age groups 2007/2008) who must prove their talent from the start and learn to cope physically against the often older opponents. In addition to the eight players who moved up from the U17s, five external new signings complete the squad.
The intensive preparation for the season included four test matches, in which the team won three times and lost once. Uhlendahl described the performances in these games as mixed, but particularly highlighted the team development process. "Getting to know each other and interacting within the team was very positive," explained Uhlendahl. "The team development process has been very good so far, but it is also ongoing and never truly ends." This aspect is of central importance for the success of the young team, which trains three times a week to optimally prepare for the demands of the league.
Staying in the league is the team's stated mandatory goal, but the coaching team also emphasizes the individual development of the players. Uhlendahl and Debus are convinced that this approach will pay off: "This year, there are numerous players who will be able to make the leap into the senior level effortlessly next summer."
The challenges begin immediately: The U19 team starts league play on Saturday, and the match in Kirchberg will be the first test – perhaps a preview of the entire season. But despite the challenges, there are enough reasons for confidence that this exceptionally young team will develop positively.
Looking back on the past season, the team was able to qualify for the championship round, which represents an important milestone. Now, it is crucial to build on these successes and make the upcoming season another chapter in Ahrweiler BC's success story.
Symbol photo:
U19 head coach Timo Uhlendahl looks optimistically towards the challenges in the new season.