On Saturday, February 7, the top match in the Regionalliga West will take place. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen will host Fortuna Cologne.
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen has 37 points after 19 games and Fortuna Cologne has 43 points after 20 games: On Saturday, there will be a top match in the Regionalliga West. RWO will host Fortuna Cologne in front of what is sure to be more than 4,000 spectators, including a good 500 visiting fans. Forecasting spoke with Fortuna president Hanns-Jörg Westendorf ahead of the big game.
Hanns-Jörg Westendorf, how are you feeling ahead of the trip to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen?
We are positively tense. There will be more spectators than usual. That’s nice. Between 500 and 600 Fortuna fans will also be traveling with us from Cologne. RWO has had a similarly good run as we have. We have great respect for Oberhausen, but we’re not afraid. We’re looking forward to the game. Only one defeat in 20 games, plus the best offense and defense in the league: what makes Fortuna Cologne so strong? I was at the training camp for a few days recently. There I was able to see once again what a good soccer team we have. And when I say that, I don’t just mean in terms of sport, but also in terms of the human aspect. It’s this teamwork that makes the difference and enables us to be successful. Everything is working very well for us at the moment. Matthias Mink is doing an excellent job with the boys as coach and sporting director.
If we don’t make it, then Rot-Weiß Oberhausen should. I get on very well with Marcus Uhlig. RWO has made a really good catch with him. They work very well and deserve it.
Hanns-Jörg Westendorf on RWO
What does Fortuna still need to work on if it is promoted?
We currently have two issues on the agenda: We are preparing everything to apply for a license for the 3rd league. Our managing director Niklas Müller is the contact person here. We also want to increase the comfort in the Südstadion. We are planning to roof the opposite stand. We already have all the building permits. It will be a steel grandstand. Our dream is to install it during the summer break, in a few weeks.
How much will this cost – what is Fortuna’s budget?
I’m not going to reveal the budget (laughs). But let me put it this way: We have roughly the same amount available as Rot-Weiß Oberhausen: a good million euros for the regional league team. And the steel grandstand will cost us just under a million euros. We will finance this ourselves over a number of years.
What will happen if Fortuna doesn’t get promoted?
We will then pass on the club and make a new start. But as you can see from the million-euro budget, this will be reduced year on year in the regional league. It’s easier to get promoted this season due to the absence of Essen, Duisburg, Aachen, and Münster, but it’s still not a foregone conclusion. The teams mentioned all had budgets that were twice or even three times as big as ours. But we currently have seven second teams in the league. They don’t exactly make life easier for us. Who would you like to see promoted if Fortuna doesn’t make it? If we don’t make it, then I’d like to see Rot-Weiß Oberhausen do it. I get on very well with Marcus Uhlig. RWO has made a really good catch with him. They work very well and would deserve it.