Frankfurt Universe has decided not to start in a shortened season of the German Football League (GFL). How do you feel as a head coach with no opportunities for yourself and your team?
We have more or less come to terms with the situation. One wonders now: what is feasible? We are currently having many discussions with our coaches and will work out an off-season program, from which we will be optimally positioned for 2021. From August onwards, you can fully train again in Hesse, so we will adapt and then you have to wait and see whether a seven-on-seven tournament or even a friendly game is possible.
Have you and the players been involved in decision making?
Yes, we did a team survey in June. 60 percent of the players have opted to play. The rest of the team was undecided or against. Of course, we incorporated this into our decision-making process. As amateurs, the players also have to struggle with everyday life, be it family, short-time work or other things. You just have to accept that. You shouldn’t be angry with some players if they are enjoying a free summer for the first time in ten years. I was personally involved in all discussions.
How did your team take it?
We communicated well and presented our reasons from an organizational, sporting and financial perspective, which make it very difficult to start such a season. We can start training again from August onwards, but I have always said that we need at least six weeks of unrestricted training to get really fit for one season. But only with the background that the team has all athletic and physical prerequisites beforehand. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to closed gyms and the corona restrictions.
With the skeptical attitude towards the start of the season, Universe was not necessarily an exception in the league.
It was clear early on internally that there was a high probability that many teams would not play, that many teams would have the same problems as we did. And that there is no point for these teams to compete. You also have to ask yourself what kind of sporting sense such a season has. And you have to see the whole package of problems: health, economic, organizational. The biggest problem is the quarantine. If someone is infected, they must be quarantined. That is completely out of the question for an amateur team like ours. And you have to imagine that a hotspot of infections is found in one of our games. Then there may be tough measures – because of Frankfurt Universe. Too many questions are open. But there are no answers.
Not even from the league and the association?
There is no developed hygiene concept like in other leagues. That was not put to our side either. Which is not acceptable. It was clear early on that the majority of GFL clubs did not want to play under these conditions. And then the league painted this picture that the GFL teams were ready for this season. It just wasn’t true. Unfortunately the association failed to take away fears and worries and to answer questions: How and how often are the players tested? Who pays the costs? What happens if the season can’t be played out? We haven’t received any answers to this day.
Have there been critical voices in the team?
All of them, without exception, have signaled that they understand the reasons. We also made it clear to everyone that we don’t put any obstacles in their way if they want to play for another club now. A few import players have already decided to play in Finland, which is completely legitimate.
Are there players who switch to the neighboring club Marburg Mercenaries because they would compete?
Not that I know. There have of course been a few inquiries. But nobody has told me before that he wants to change within Germany. And no one knows anyway if anyone can play at all.
Do you continue to train, or does Universe take a break?
We started athletic training with about 15 to 25 players two or three weeks ago. Now the planning for the new season will come soon. We will then see whether we can give the team a break or say: We are now training with a helmet and armor. But you actually only train with a helmet and pads when you are about to start a season. Otherwise the risk of injury is simply too great. But if we did a friendly game, we would of course start training with full equipment.
Have foreign players been here to prepare for the season?
There weren’t any here yet. We had already booked a few flights, which we had to cancel. Of course, these are also costs that arise. We quickly saw that it would be pointless to bring the boys from America here. They would have been quarantined for two weeks anyway.
Doesn’t such a waiver throw the club far behind?
I do not think so. Football is a small cosmos. The fans will forgive. They wouldn’t say: Okay, then we won’t go to football anymore.
And sporty?
Of course it hurts us. Fortunately, we came to a very, very good squad last season. Also because we had an economically quiet year. We would have liked to build on that.
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