After relegation to the Landesliga, SC Velbert has undergone a major upheaval. Direct relegation to the Oberliga is not an option for coach Dennis Czayka.
In a month’s time, SC Velbert will start the new season of the Landesliga Niederrhein 3 with a home match against TuSEM Essen. Until then, new coach Dennis Czayka is preparing his team for the upcoming tasks: “At the moment, there is a lot of new content that is hitting the boys. Overall, it’s a lot of fun, all the players are eager to learn and open to change. It’s clear to everyone in the club that we have to take a new direction and we’re on a good path there.”
After relegation from the Oberliga, the Velbert squad is hardly recognisable. “We have been able to sign a lot of new players. The upheaval would have been completed one way or another, but due to the relegation we have made this cut a little harder. We now have an age average of 20.8 years,” explains Czayka.
The newly formed team came together for the first time at the start of preparation a fortnight ago. Since then, the SC coach has already been able to see a development: “When so many new faces come together, they always spend a few days getting to know each other. You notice that the boys are thawing out and getting warmer with each other. It’s just a question of time until we’ve really grown together as a team. “
Raise is not an issue
Despite the already high activity on the transfer market, SC Velbert’s squad planning is not yet finalised. “We still have one or two options at the moment. Our goal is not to inflate the squad across the board. If we can sign a player who will help us immediately, then we will do so. It’s clear that we don’t have to sign anyone else. But we are keeping our options open,” says Czayka, describing the personnel situation.
The 39-year-old’s goal is modest due to the major changes in personnel: “We don’t talk about a return to the top flight at all. We know that a change is always a process that takes time. The people in charge are aware that such a young team will have to learn the hard way. We have to run into the wall from time to time in order to learn and develop. That’s all part of the equation, which is why I’m far from making any predictions. “