The Baumberg sports club still has almost three weeks to prepare for the first competitive game in the league. However, the cup starts in a few days.

Sportfreunde Baumberg have strengthened their squad with a new striker. As the Oberliga Niederrhein leaders announced, Leonard Bajraktari is moving from TSV Meerbusch to Sandstraße in Monheim’s Baumberg district.

“With Leonard, we have got a good offensive winger. We have been in contact with him for years. I’m glad it has worked out now. We have reacted due to our absences and injuries,” says Baumberg’s first chairman Jürgen Schick.

Head coach Salah El Halimi adds: “Leonard is a versatile player in offense who, in addition to speed and dribbling, also brings a certain physicality that we lack. We have known him for quite some time and are pleased that he absolutely wanted to join us after his contract was terminated in Meerbusch and other lucrative offers.”

Baumberg’s next league game is not until February 18 (Sunday, 3 p.m.) against TSV Meerbusch, Bajraktari’s former club.

But on Tuesday (February 6, 7:30 p.m.), a big cup game is already on the program. In the Lower Rhine Cup quarterfinals, the Oberliga leaders Baumberg will host the Regionalliga West leaders 1. FC Bocholt. The winner of this game will be rewarded with a home semi-final game against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen.

Baumberg and RWO: There was something, wasn’t there? That’s right: in the 2012/2013 season, Baumberg brought the Lower Rhine Cup to Monheim after beating Rot-Weiß Oberhausen 1-0, and qualified for the first DFB Cup main round.