TSV Havelse will face Rot-Weiss Essen on the road this Saturday (January 24, 2 p.m.). Forecasting spoke beforehand with TSV sporting director and player Florian Riedel.
Florian Riedel is the driving force behind TSV Havelse. Under the 35-year-old, the Lower Saxony-based club has been promoted and relegated twice in the last four years. In Havelse, everything seems to stand or fall with Riedel.
He is not only the sporting director but also the executive director, managing director of the association, and a TSV professional all in one. “Believe me: there’s a lot piling up in the office—I don’t know what boredom is,” he reveals.
Currently, Riedel can at least do a little less as a player. Because, unlike at the start of the season, he’s now just a substitute. “I could put it this way: Sports Director Riedel has done such a good job that he’s no longer needed as a player. I actually wanted to quit back in the summer. But after the promotion to the 3rd Division, the appeal was too great. Now I’m on my farewell tour. In the summer of 2026, I’ll definitely be done as a player,” emphasizes the right-back.
On Saturday, Riedel will first stop at Essen’s Hafenstraße as part of his farewell tour. “Games against Rot-Weiss Essen at Hafenstraße are definitely among the highlights of the 3rd Division. We’re really looking forward to it,” he says.
I played alongside Ahmet Arslan and often went on vacation with him. A great guy and an outstanding player! If he doesn’t get a chance to play, that says a lot about the quality of the RWE squad. They also have an experienced coach in Uwe Koschinat who can manage it all. The roles are clearly defined. We still want to try to pull off a surprise at Hafenstraße.
Florian Riedel
Havelse has earned twelve points in its last seven matches and is unbeaten in four games. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw against RWE; now the promoted team is coming to Essen-Bergeborbeck with its head held high.
“It wasn’t just the recent 4-0 win against Hoffenheim II that gave us confidence. Actually, we’ve been scoring points consistently since Matchday 13. What we said before the season is proving true: We have to develop into this 3. Liga. We’ve managed that. Let’s see if we can also make up the deficit. Because, of course, we’ve been carrying the burden of that poor start to the season,” explains Riedel, whose TSV Havelse currently trails the safety zone by six points.
The 3rd League is the Champions League for us!
Florian Riedel
TSV Havelse has the smallest budget in the 3rd Division and, for financial reasons, was unable to hold a winter training camp. “We trained in indoor soccer facilities. We do everything sensibly and know what we can and want to do—and what simply isn’t possible,” explains Riedel, adding: “The 3rd Division is the Champions League for us!”
It’s different for Rot-Weiss Essen: For RWE, the 3rd League is really just a stepping stone toward the 2nd Bundesliga. You can’t compare Havelse and Essen. TSV is the league’s underdog, while RWE is one of the big powerhouses.
But things could get tight on the field this Saturday.
Riedel: “Anyone who’s followed our games can see that we’ve scored 29 goals. We’ve continued to develop and play with courage and flair—we can’t do it any other way. We’ll be looking for our chance in Essen, too.”
And how does he assess Rot-Weiss Essen? Riedel’s answer: “I played alongside Ahmet Arslan and often went on vacation with him. He’s a great guy and an outstanding player! The fact that he doesn’t get much playing time says a lot about the quality of the RWE squad. They also have an experienced coach in Uwe Koschinat who can manage it all. The roles are clearly defined. Nevertheless, we want to try to pull off a surprise at Hafenstraße.”
