Hope remained until the end. On the last match day of last season, TSV Aurolzmünster had the chance to at least reach the relegation round in the 1st class Southwest and thus avoid the bitter move to the 2nd class. In the end, they clearly lost the direct duel against St. Pantaleon with 1:4.
However, the Münster players did not need much time to recover from this sporting setback. In the new season of the 2nd Class West, coach Sebastian Zinnöcker’s team has remained flawless so far and has celebrated just as many victories in the five games so far this season. This means they are also at the top of the table. Coach Zinnöcker does not find this run of success a complete surprise. A fresh start was not necessary in Aurolzmünster. “In the spring, we were not far from staying in the 1st Class. The most important thing was that our team stayed together, apart from three departures. That’s why it was relatively easy for us to find our way into the new championship.”
So far, his team’s performances have been relatively confident, only against Mettmach they were 1:2 behind at half-time – but TSV was able to turn this match around in their favour (3:2). Next Sunday (4 p.m.) the Zinnöcker boys will face their first major test when they play away at their closest rivals from Ampflwang. “We know Ampflwang well from our last season in the league. They have quality, especially in attack, but we have that too. I expect a match on equal terms against our direct rivals,” says the TSV coach.
Another TSV competitor is not only in the immediate vicinity in the table. SPG Obernberg/Ort, which was relegated from the 1st class northwest after last season, also had a good “restart”. The team is currently only three points behind the Münster team in third place. According to sports director Hajrudin Hajric, they “definitely have the class to play at the top.” “We have a good squad and recently saw against Ampflwang that we can keep up with the best teams in the league,” says Hajric. Even though the game against the second-placed team was spectacularly lost 4:5, people in Obernberg are optimistic: “The top four is our goal this year,” says Hajric.
Former talent on the sidelines
While Aurolzmünster and Obernberg are relying largely on proven players despite relegation, no stone has been left unturned at the 2nd Southwest club Ranshofen. The former regional league team, which has enjoyed numerous successes in recent decades, has had to cope with two relegations within two years and twelve departures last summer alone. There was also a change on the coaching bench: Tom Kreilinger, only 26 years old, took over the young Ranshofen team. Kreilinger himself played for ATSV for 14 years before having to hang up his boots due to injury after further stints in Braunau and at regional league team Gurten. Now he is trying his luck for the first time as the main (player) coach – and with great success: After five games, Ranshofen has picked up 13 points and is currently at the top of the table. “After the disappointing recent years, it was especially important for the boys to experience success again. I want to bring a winning mentality back into the team,” says Kreilinger.
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Image: Furtner
Source: Nachrichten
