KFC Uerdingen’s U19s got off to a modest start to the 2024 calendar year with zero points from two games. We spoke to coach Adalet Güner.

KFC Uerdingen’s U19s got off to two bad starts to the new year in the Lower Rhine League. First, they lost the season opener against Spvg Schonnebeck 3:1, followed by a 2:0 defeat against SG Unterrath.

“Those were games at eye level in which we certainly deserved more than just a draw. In the end, it was down to our own inability and bad luck,” said Adalet Güner, coach of the KFC U19s, assessing the games. The results may be very negative, but at the start of the season KFC’s situation looked much more dramatic.

On the first seven match days, the Uerdingen team was exclusively at the bottom of the table. Güner’s change of coach and system brought a breath of fresh air to the Blue & Reds. The U19s are now in seventh place and are much more stable.

The gap to the top teams in the Niederrheinliga seems to have narrowed. Güner agrees: “We don’t have to hide from any of the teams. I think Meerbusch, RWO and RWE are a level higher, but we can also beat these three teams with our quality. “

About six to eight of my players have already been allowed to take part in a session with the first team. The aim is definitely to integrate at least two boys at the top.

Adalet Güner

St. Tönis is the upcoming opponent. Güner and his squad will be looking to get back to winning ways there and get 2024 off to the right start: “We can turn things around there. But we shouldn’t underestimate St. Tönis under any circumstances. They have two or three good guys up front who can hurt. We have to fight back right from the start and, ideally, get the three points.”

Three points would be essential for the Uerdingen side, who are hoping to make up one place in order to “not end up in a relegation place”.

The question that increasingly arises these days is the quality of the players. Do they have enough potential and ability for the first team? It is no secret that KFC Uerdingen is not flush with money and therefore has to rely more on its own youth.

Güner gives the all-clear a little and assures that there are some players in the U19s who could be considered for the top division: “Around six to eight of my players have already been allowed to take part in a session with the first team. The aim is definitely to integrate at least two boys at the top.”

The coach also mentions two names who have already attracted a lot of attention in the U19s: “Rashad Ouro-Akpo was player of the tournament at the indoor tournament we took part in for the Oberliga team. He’s definitely an interesting player. Julian Keibel should also be mentioned, who has already made the difference for us in several games. “