Third division club MSV Duisburg is in a crisis. President Ingo Wald talks about various sporting issues.
Ingo Wald has been chairman of the board of MSV Duisburg since 2015. Since then, there have never been really quiet times, but things have rarely been as bad as they are now for the traditional club from the Wedau. In sporting terms, the club is currently in a disastrous 20th place in the 3rd league, the financial situation remains tense, and there is simply no continuity on the coaching bench.
Continuity is a good keyword. That’s exactly what Wald wants for his MSV Duisburg, as he explained in the Radio Duisburg podcast. However, the MSV president also practiced self-criticism. “What I reproach myself for is that I sometimes have too much loyalty. I often hold on to people who are in leadership positions for a long time and trust these people. I always want continuity, that’s important to me. Clubs like Freiburg or Mainz are my ideals, how I see an ideal soccer world. Unfortunately, we have not been able to achieve that,” the 65-year-old stressed.
The recent dismissal of sporting director Ralf Heskamp was naturally also a defining topic in the more than 50-minute conversation. Wald explained the release of the 58-year-old: “Ralf is a fine person whom I hold in very high regard. We ultimately decided to set an impulse in the sporting area. In winter at the latest, we would have had to decide whether or not to continue with Ralf because his contract would have expired at the end of the season. Both Ralf and we then decided that it didn’t make sense to continue in that constellation.”
Asked about the discord between the club’s management and Heskamp – Forecasting reported – the president replied, “I can understand Ralf’s reaction. Of course you don’t feel good when you are released, even though it certainly didn’t come as a surprise to him. “
We are convinced that Engin is a good coach. Of course, we are also a bit afraid that we will burn him. We have a responsibility for a young man like Engin, who will definitely make his way. We are sure of that.
Ingo Wald on Engin Vural.
Meanwhile, Wald has a high opinion of current MSV coach Engin Vural, who has worked at the Zebras’ NLZ since 2010 and has now been promoted to professional coach.
Wald: “We are convinced that Engin is a good coach. Of course, we are also a bit afraid that we will burn him. We have a responsibility for a young man like Engin, who will definitely make his way. We are sure about that. If we had scored seven points in the first three games under him, it would make things a lot easier for us and the environment. So we have to keep the option open as to how we continue. “