Third division team SV Elversberg continues to march towards the championship. However, the SVE will have to do without their top scorer in the coming games.

It was a demonstration of power by SV Elversberg. The third division leaders won the derby and top match at 1. FC Saarbrücken last matchday by a clear 4:0 and extended their lead at the top of the table.

After 21 games, the team of successful coach Horst Steffen already has a nine-point lead over “chaser” SV Wehen Wiesbaden. 1. FC Saarbrücken – currently fourth – is already 14 points behind the furious promoted team. Anything other than a run into the 2nd Division would be a big surprise. The SVE is by far the strongest team in the 3rd Division – both offensively and defensively. Nevertheless, there was a drop of bitterness after the 4:0 derby win.

Luca Schnellbacher, Elversberg’s top scorer and vice-captain, tore his lateral ligament during the game and will be absent for the next few weeks. Particularly curious: Schnellbacher was injured in the early stages of the game and still scored a brace before being substituted at half-time – his eleventh and twelfth goals of the season.

Will Koffi be Schnellbacher’s replacement?

The loss of the 28-year-old is naturally a shock for the undisputed league leaders. However, there is no need to worry too much at the Kaiserlinde. The SVE has already proven several times that the squad is also very well positioned in terms of width. The first alternative to replace Schnellbacher will probably be Kevin Koffi, who already replaced Schnellbacher in Saarbrücken and contributed the goal to the 4:0 final score. The centre-forward has already been under contract with SSC Napoli and AS Rome in his career and is one of the best players in the 3rd division in terms of football.

This season, Koffi scored six goals and provided five assists in 953 minutes of action. On average, the 36-year-old has a direct share in the goal every 86.6 minutes – a strong value. He is technically strong, has two feet, has a high quality in goal scoring and would probably be an absolute key player at any other third division club.

At SVE, Koffi recently lost his regular place to the young Nick Woltemade. In the next few weeks, the two of them will probably form the double front in Horst Steffen’s 4-4-2 system. With Valdrin Mustafa (three goals in the season) and Ben Bobzien (on loan from Mainz 05), there are two more options for the centre of attack.