The Essen-West gymnastics club is currently experiencing a losing streak in the Lower Rhine District League 6. Coach Dietmar Krause talks about the reasons and calls for tried-and-tested measures.
Turngemeinde Essen-West is currently going through a difficult period in the Lower Rhine District League 6. Coach Dietmar Krause’s team got off to a poor start to the season and has not yet been able to stabilize.
The result: out of twelve games, Turngemeinde has won just two and managed two draws. The rest of the games were lost. The consequence of this poor performance is that the team from the west of Essen is in a relegation spot with only eight points. They are three points away from safety.
Coach Krause is dissatisfied with the situation, but can put it into perspective: “We have a lot of injured players at the moment. We also don’t have a striker. Jani Dragoni is suspended and Özkan Akcapinar is injured. It’s just difficult to keep up in the Bezirksliga at the moment.”
The already very young squad, with almost ten U19 players, is currently being put to the test. The numerous absences mainly affect key players and regulars. Regular goalkeeper Stefan Nass, Luca Manis, and captain Faruk Kuduzovic will be out for at least the next few weeks. Due to the absences, the young players have to take on responsibility, which is almost too much of a burden for Krause.
We have to collect as many points as possible until December and finally realize that we are in a relegation battle. That has to slowly sink in now.
Dietmar Krause
Despite a battered squad, Essen-West is struggling in the league. On Sunday, Krause’s team will host Vogelheimer SV at 1:30 p.m. The 53-year-old doesn’t know what to expect at the moment: “With so many young players, it depends mainly on their form on the day. If we get off to a good start, anything is possible. Otherwise, it will be difficult again.”
Krause himself recognizes the seriousness of the situation and urges his team: “We have to collect as many points as possible until December and finally realize that we are in a relegation battle. That has to sink in now.”
A change in the system due to the poor results? On the contrary. Krause is relying on tried and tested methods: “Since we don’t have the quality on the pitch at the moment, we have to bring other virtues to bear. We need fighting spirit, determination, and willingness. That’s what I expect for the upcoming games.”