SC Paderborn’s second team has played a leading role in the Westphalian top division for several years now. This is also thanks to the head of the youth development centre.

What does Ayhan Tumani actually do? Among football experts, the ex-professional, who played 19 Second Division matches (nine for Arminia Bielefeld and ten for Hannover 06, editor’s note), is a respected expert – especially in the youth sector.

The 51-year-old has been head of youth development at SC Paderborn since 1 July 2017. And the SCP’s U teams are making progress year after year. Even one Ron Schallenberg, captain of SC Paderborn, made the leap from the reserve to the professional team during Tumani’s tenure.

The best example of development is the U21 team: 12th place, 7th, 4th, 3rd and currently third again. This is the development of SC Paderborn II in the Oberliga Westfalen.

RevierSport spoke with former Wuppertal player Tumani about the U21 season and its goals.

NLZ boss Ayhan Tumani on…

… the first half of the season in the Oberliga Westfalen: “I am positively surprised. After the two opening defeats, the boys quickly got together and then also earned a good points balance in ten games without defeat. We’ve put ourselves in a great position for the rest of the season. And if you look back to the summer, when we had 14 departures, eight of them to higher leagues, you couldn’t assume such a successful season.”

… personnel changes in the winter break: “Currently there is nothing to report. But both are possible, both additions and departures.”

… the goals for 2023: “We would very much like to go up. We were already close last season and only failed to reach the top by one point less than Wattenscheid. However, we are not putting the gun to the boys’ heads. But it’s also a fact that the coaching team and the team want to get promoted. And of course they are supported in this by the club and by me as head of youth development.”

… the preparation: “We start on 4 January and have some test matches planned.”

Wednesday, 4 January

Training kick-off: Training & Nachwuchsleistungszentrum (TNLZ).

Tuesday, 10 January

Test match against DJK Mastbruch (Landesliga)

Venue: TNLZ | Kick-off 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, 15 January

Test match against 1.FC Germania Egestorf-Langreder (Oberliga Niedersachsen)

Venue: TNLZ | Kick-off 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, 21 January

Test match against SC Wiedenbrück (Regionalliga West)

Venue: TNLZ | Kick-off 12:00 hrs

Wednesday, 25 January

Test match against FC Preußen Espelkamp (Westfalenliga)

Venue: TNLZ | Kick-off 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, 29 January

Test match at TuS Bersenbrück (Oberliga Lower Saxony)

Venue: Bersenbrück | Kick-off 2:00 p.m.

Start of second half of season

Sunday, 5 February

Matchday 18 Oberliga Westfalen

Westfalia Rhynern – SCP07 U21

Venue: Stadion Westfalia-Sportpark | Kick-off 15:00