In addition to the clash between KFC Uerdingen and Rot-Weiss Essen, the Lower Rhine Cup quarter-finals will also see Sportfreunde Hamborn 07 take on RWO.

For Hans-Günter Bruns, the draw between Sportfreunde Hamborn 07 and Rot-Weiß Oberhausen in the Lower Rhine Cup quarter-finals is a very special pairing.

The 68-year-old has been head of sport at the Duisburg Oberliga club since the summer of 2020. He experienced his best time as an official, namely as head coach, at Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. It was Bruns who formed the legendary RWO Malocher and almost led them to the 1st Bundesliga.

To this day, former Bruns protégés such as Mike Terranova, Markus Kaya, Benjamin Reichert, Marcel Landers, Musa Celik, Tuncay Aksoy, Dimitrios Pappas and co. still meet up regularly.

“Yes, that was undoubtedly a wonderful time. I still live in Oberhausen with my wife today and also follow RWO. They want to be promoted to the 3rd division once again. They’re currently lagging a little behind. But I can’t imagine Bocholt pulling it off like that. RWO could come close again,” says Bruns.

We have to have a very good day to stand up to Oberhausen. I hope that we can also welcome back some key players before this game. Because we’ve had an injury crisis since the start of the season. That’s why it’s all the more impressive that we’re currently above the bottom line in the Oberliga Niederrhein.

Hans-Günter Bruns

The former German international and Bundesliga professional does not yet know – as of November 8, 2023 – when and where his Hamborn Lions will face RWO.

Bruns: “I can only say that a home game during the week is out of the question. The floodlights won’t work for us. We have to have the game played by March 2024. Let’s see when and where that will ultimately be the case.”

And what are the chances? After all, RWO also had a lot of trouble in the last two rounds against the regional league representatives VfL Jüchen-Garzweiler and 1. FC Monheim.

Bruns replies: “Yes, but the concentration is even higher in the quarter-finals. It will be difficult for us. But of course we will try to spring a surprise. We have to have a very good day to stand up to Oberhausen. I hope that we can also welcome back some key players before this game. We’ve had an injury crisis since the start of the season. That’s why it’s all the more impressive that we’re currently above the line in the Oberliga Niederrhein. “