A week before MSV Duisburg’s 3. Liga opener, coach Torsten Ziegner has settled on a captain, deputy captain and team council.

MSV Duisburg has a new captain. Sebastian Mai will lead coach Torsten Ziegner’s eleven onto the pitch in the 2023/24 season. This was announced by the third-division club on Friday (July 28). His representative and the team council were also determined.

“Basti Mai has shown himself to be a strong leader in the past season,” Ziegner said on the club’s website, explaining the decision. “We believe that this official position will give him even more responsibility for the team.”

May was last season from Dynamo Dresden to the Meidericher. The 29-year-old was an instant regular and leader in central defense. In 26 games, he scored one goal and set up three others.

His deputy will be Marvin Bakalorz. Ziegner describes him as “a very experienced player who plays a very important role in the team and fills it impressively.” The 33-year-old is one of the veterans in the team and is entering his third MSV season.

Mai and Bakalorz will be complemented on the team board by Caspar Jander, Thomas Pledl and Niklas Kölle. “Caspar Jander already represented the group of young players well last season and will continue to grow with this task,” Ziegner is certain. “Thomas Pledl, although new to Meiderich, has convinced us all of himself in these first weeks as a guy and with his performance on the pitch – a top professional.”

With a wink, Ziegner adds, “And with Niklas Kölle, we have the representative of the ‘crazies’ in the team … but seriously, Niklas can be relied on, he is an absolutely opinionated player who clearly addresses where he sees room for improvement.”

A good week before the kick-off, all offices are thus distributed. On Sunday, August 6 (4:30 p.m.), MSV will kick off the new third league season at SC Freiburg II. Before that, a final test is scheduled in Homberg against De Graafschap from the Netherlands