At the halfway point of the season, Duisburger SV 1900 sits in a solid second place in the standings. They trail local rival and league leader Duisburger FV 08 by six points.
On January 3, 2026, the Duisburger SV 1900 team, led by head coach Sergio Pinto Cruz, will begin winter training.
The goal is for DSV to, in the best-case scenario, make up the six-point deficit to the Bezirksliga Division 5 leader, Duisburger FV 08.
Forecasting spoke with Michele Mastrolonardo, sporting director of DSV 1900.
Michele Mastrolonardo, how would you assess your team’s first half of the season?
Overall, the first half of the season has been very positive. However, there were also games in which we unnecessarily dropped points. Considering the major shake-up this summer—with a new coaching staff and 16 new players—the team’s progress so far is anything but a given. The team gelled quickly and has visibly earned its results and current league position. This speaks above all to the team’s strong character and cohesion.
What has been the highlight for you so far?
A particular highlight was the consistency with which the team performed over long stretches of the first half of the season. Added to that is the strong goal difference, which underscores our stability and effectiveness.
And what was the biggest negative experience?
A few unnecessary losses of points despite our dominance on the field were frustrating. That’s part of the development process.
Will there be changes to the squad during the winter break?
No major changes are planned. The focus is on further stabilizing the existing squad. However, I don’t rule out specific adjustments.
In total, there will be six departures: Four players are leaving the club, and one player is moving to the second team. All these moves are solely due to the limited playing time the players have received. In addition, the season is unfortunately over for David Römer. He has suffered another serious knee injury and will need surgery.
What is your goal for the rest of the season?
Our goal is to build on our performance from the first half of the season, continue our development consistently, and remain among the league leaders until the end of the season.