The VfB Homberg fought their way to a 0-0 draw against Sportfreunde Hamborn in the opening game of the Oberliga season. Coach Stefan Janßen was not dissatisfied with the result after the match.

This was certainly not how Stefan Janßen had imagined the first competitive match after his return to VfB Homberg. On the first matchday of the new season in the Oberliga Niederrhein, his team drew 0-0 in the derby against Sportfreunde Hamborn 07.

Before the game, this result would probably have been described as too little for the team relegated to the regional league, but after a weak opening phase, two sending-offs and a total of 60 minutes of being outnumbered, the Homberg coach was not unhappy about the point gained.

“We started the game very, very badly,” reflected the 52-year-old. “We produced far too many unnecessary fouls, which is exactly what we wanted to avoid. When Timm Golley has a slightly better day, he knocks in two free kicks for us without us being dangerous in front of goal once. “

Curiously, the sending off for captain Thorsten Kogel after half an hour of play almost seemed to help his team get into the game better. “Unfortunately, Thorsten didn’t get into the duels against Kevin Menke at all. We actually wanted to change the team and then we got a yellow card in the next tackle. Hamborn couldn’t make much out of their superiority, but that’s normal when a team that’s playing shorthanded does well. My compliments to my boys for the way they fought like lions when they were outnumbered and gave everything they had. The point is certainly happy in the end because Hamborn was the better team, but from our point of view not completely undeserved.”

The VfB players don’t have much time to regenerate after the exhausting derby, as the English week continues next Wednesday with an away game at Ratingen 04/19.

For Janßen, this is rather unfavourable, at least in terms of personnel, but he does not want to complain. “Dennis Abrosimov is injured, plus the suspensions for Thorsten Kogel and Clinton Asare. These three players will be difficult to replace, but that’s the way it is now. We are prepared for an English week, that’s always been the case. That’s why it doesn’t really bother me now. “