Fortuna Köln, the leader of the Regionalliga West, travels to face VfL Bochum II on Sunday. Here’s what coach Matthias Mink has to say.
Regionalliga West leader Fortuna Köln kicks off the 2026 competitive season in the Ruhr region. The Rhinelanders play on Sunday against the reserve team of second-division side VfL Bochum.
“We’re expecting a tough away game in Bochum. In our home match, we posed little goal threat against a well-defending VfL. We definitely have to do better on Sunday. With U23 teams, it’s also always difficult to predict which players will ultimately take the field. That’s why, in our preparations, we’re focusing primarily on what and how we want to play,” says Fortuna Köln coach Matthias Mink.
During the winter break, VfL Bochum II made significant changes to its roster. Players with no realistic chance of playing, such as Tolga Özdemir (SV Schermbeck) and Jan Nzeba-Bost (RW Ahlen), left the club. Other departures included Stevan Tasic (unattached), Ben Heuser (SV Kapfenberg), Divine Boafo (SV Schermbeck), and Keleb Nwubani (RW Ahlen).
In return, VfL signed Aurel Wagbe, who had most recently been a free agent. He is a versatile winger with Regionalliga experience and physical presence who has previously played in the 2. Bundesliga for Holstein Kiel. Three more new signings followed this week: Dominic Volkmer joined from TSV Steinbach Haiger, the previously unsigned Mohammed Tolba returned to his former club, and Luis Köster most recently played for KSV Holstein Kiel II.
Fortuna Köln signed only Neo Telle. The midfielder, who came from 1. FC Köln, says: ” The most important thing will be that we play as a team and give it our all. Especially at the start after the winter break, it’s important that our effort is at a high level. In terms of soccer, not everything will work right away, so we have to put in more effort. Bochum isn’t in a good position. Maybe they want to make a fresh start after the break, with the ambition to pick up points. It’s going to be a tough battle,” emphasizes new signing Neo Telle.
