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“We’ve never had such bad luck with injuries. I hope this remains a one-time thing”said Raffael Gruber, head coach of the Monobunt Gladiators Ried on Thursday evening in the OÖN interview.
In the first home game of the season in AFL Division II on Saturday afternoon (2 p.m., Klaus Roitinger Stadium) against the BSK Ravens from Bischofshofen, Rieder will be missing almost 20 players due to various injuries, including two captains, Lukas Ziegler and Markus Burgstaller.
“I can currently only fall back on 35 players, 45 to 50 would be ideal”, says Gruber. A number of players will return in the coming weeks, while several will miss the entire season due to serious injuries.
The Gladiators lost the first game of the season last week with 0:28 against the Huskies Wels. It hurts even more than the defeat that six players were injured in this game.
“trial by fire” for young players
Before the duel against the Ravens, Gruber is quite confident despite the tense personnel situation. “Some young players are making their debuts, so it’s a test by fire, if you will. We’ve trained well and I’m confident that with the support of our fans we’ll put in a good performance.”
When asked how strong he thinks the Ravens are, the Gladiators head coach replies: “It’s hard to say because the Ravens merged with another team. There is also a new head coach. We also couldn’t watch our opponent in the first round because he had no play.”
From the original goal of the season, reaching the promotion play-offs, you are in the “gladiators” moved away.
“The most important thing now is that we don’t get relegated”says Gruber, who is looking forward to the first home game this year: “It’s always very special for us to play in front of our vociferous and sensational fans. I hope for 500 to 600 spectators in the Colloseum Noricum.”
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mood booster “Prime Gladius”
“We’ve been at the games for a number of years, even away from home. That’s why we decided at the beginning of the year to found the first official Gladiators Ried fan club,” say Peter Schaller and Daniel Hager, the two chairmen of the “Primus Gladius” club.
The fan club celebrated its premiere at the away game last weekend in Wels. “We are currently 14 members, but of course we hope that numerous new supporters will be added in the coming weeks,” says Hager in the OÖN interview. After the clear defeat in Wels things should go better this afternoon. “Of course we hope for a win and a lot of spectators in the stands. We will loudly support the gladiators,” say Hager and Schaller.
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Although the fan club has only existed for around three months, there is already an online shop with various fan paraphernalia. These can also be purchased at home games. “This year we are building up the club, and from the coming season the net proceeds will benefit the youth work of Gladiators Ried,” says Hager.
More information on the homepage at www.primusgladius.at
Source: Nachrichten