On Saturday, February 7, the top match in the Regionalliga West will take place. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen will host Fortuna Köln.
After 19 games, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen has 37 points, and after 20 games, Fortuna Köln has 43 points: This Saturday will see a top-of-the-table clash in the Regionalliga West.
RWO will host Fortuna Köln in front of what is sure to be a crowd of more than 4,000, including a good 500 visiting fans.
Ahead of this blockbuster match, Forecasting spoke with Fortuna President Hanns-Jörg Westendorf.
Hanns-Jörg Westendorf, how are you feeling ahead of the trip to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen?
We’re excited but focused. There will be more spectators than usual. That’s great. We’ll also have 500 to 600 Fortuna fans joining us from Cologne. RWO has had a run of form just as strong as ours. We have great respect for Oberhausen, but no fear. We’re looking forward to the game.
Just one loss in 20 games, plus the best offense and defense in the league: What makes Fortuna Cologne so strong?
I was also at the training camp for a few days recently. There, I was able to see once again what a good soccer team we have put together. And when I say that, I don’t just mean the athletic side, but also the human side. That teamwork is what makes the difference, and that’s how you can be successful. Everything is coming together very well for us right now. Matthias Mink is doing an outstanding job with the guys as both coach and sporting director.
If we don’t make it, then Rot-Weiß Oberhausen should. I get along very well with Marcus Uhlig. RWO really hit the jackpot with him. They’re working very hard and would certainly deserve it
Hanns-Jörg Westendorf on RWO
What areas does Fortuna still need to work on if they get promoted?
We currently have two priorities on our agenda: We’re preparing everything to apply for the 3rd Division license. Our managing director, Niklas Müller, is the contact person for this. Additionally, we want to improve the comfort at the Südstadion. We’re planning a roof over the opposite stand. We’ve already obtained all the necessary building permits. It will be a steel grandstand. Our dream is to install it during the summer break, in just a few weeks.
What kind of budget is being allocated for this—how much is Fortuna’s budget, actually?
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: about a million euros for the Regionalliga team. And the steel grandstand will cost us just under a million euros. We’ll finance this ourselves over the course of several years.
What actually happens if Fortuna doesn’t get promoted?
The club will carry on, and we’ll make a fresh start. But as you can see from the budget of just over a million euros, this amount is reduced year after year in the Regional League. While it’s easier to get promoted this season due to the absence of Essen, Duisburg, Aachen, or Münster, it’s still by no means a given. The teams mentioned all had budgets that were twice or even three times as large as ours. But currently, we have seven second-division teams in the league. They aren’t exactly making life easier for us either.
Who would you like to see get promoted if Fortuna doesn’t make it?
If we don’t make it, then Rot-Weiß Oberhausen should do it. I get along very well with Marcus Uhlig. RWO really hit the jackpot with him. They’re working very hard and would deserve it too.