FC Brünninghausen are currently lacking sporting success in the Oberliga Westfalen. The resignation of two important players has now been announced.

FC Brünninghausen are currently lacking sporting success in the Oberliga Westfalen. After 15 match days, the promoted team is in 15th place in the table with eleven points and only three points ahead of the first direct relegation spot. Now, two key officials have also announced their resignations.

Rafik Halim, who has been on the Dortmund touchline since 2019, will remain with the team until the end of the season, he has now announced. The situation is different for sporting director Thomas Behlke. He will only remain in office until the end of this calendar year – for personal reasons, according to the club’s press release.

Halim also has personal reasons for his resignation: “The coaching job simply takes up too much time. We train three times a week, which is already too little for a first division team, then there’s the game on Sunday and as a coach there’s a lot more. You have to work through games and have lots of one-on-one conversations. I also have a family and I want to make time for them too, so I can’t do everything.”

It is important for the Brünninghausen coach to emphasize that his resignation has nothing to do with the sporting situation – and is independent of Behlke’s resignation: “The decision had already been made. However, I am 100 percent sure that we will manage to stay in the league. I will now go one better until the end of the season.”

Last season, the team from Dortmund were promoted to the top division. Halim, who took over the team in 2019 with fellow coach Florian Gondrum, explains: “Last year, I was already toying with the idea that this would be my last season. But the discussions I had and the euphoria made me decide to carry on. We were doing well in the table and promotion to the Oberliga was possible. I was keen to embark on the Oberliga adventure. “

We’ve really built something over the last few years. We’ve rejuvenated the team and gained a lot of trust from the club. We’ve always received a lot of encouragement and the club’s sporting management has always backed us.

Rafik Halim

The promoted coach looks back on his time at the club with a smile and a tear in his eye: “It was a very positive time. We took over the team when they were in mid-table in the Westfalenliga. The lads were actually at senior league level, but were totally insecure. Then there was a complete upheaval and we lost 15 lads.”

Halim adds: “We’ve really built something up over the last few years. We’ve rejuvenated the team and gained a lot of trust from the club. We’ve always received a lot of encouragement and the club’s sporting management has always backed us.”

On the other hand, Halim is looking forward to his time off, but hasn’t completely ruled out a comeback as a coach: “I’m going to take a break for a year or two. Then I can enjoy my Sundays off with my family and relax. My three children will certainly be happy. “