DJ and interpreter: Steyrs is so strange “nines”

“Nobody expected that”, Forward sports director Gerald Perzy rejoiced after the 2-1 win in the regional football league against the Young Vikings. After the third win in five games – all three full successes were achieved in the local Liwest Arena – coach Markus Eitl’s team is in a good position with fifth place after the first third of the autumn season. This despite the fact that a complete upheaval took place in the summer after the relegation from the 2nd division. One of the 16 newcomers is a very special one: Steyr’s new one “nines”Hamza Ech Sheikh.

The striker, who came to South Tyrol from Morocco at the age of four, also scored in the third home game in a row. “We give everything for the fans. It’s always great to score a goal in front of the south stand”says Ech Cheikh. He also accepts a yellow card because he took off his jersey while celebrating a goal for the 1-0 lead. “I could have saved myself that, but I was just so happy”, says the attacker, who at 26 is currently even the oldie in the newly formed young forward team. Not the only curiosity of the shrill migratory bird: Steyr is already his twelfth career station. He almost ended up in Steyr earlier. Percy: “He did a trial with us in the second division and was convincing, but then got injured.”

Steyr like a “coin toss”

The transfer came about late in the summer – how important he is for the new forward team is also proven off the pitch: Since Ech Cheikh speaks a total of five languages, he is an important point of contact for his Spanish teammate Vivito. “He’s also the new booth DJ. He’s just a funny guy”says Perzy, who sees room for improvement despite the good start: “At the moment you could still compare us to a coin toss. In the first half against Ried we were really good, but then in the second half we lost everything. But overall we are very satisfied.” Now it only has to work away with the first point win.

Regional League Middle

scorers //
5: Philipp Zuna (Voitsberg)
4: Jonas Schwaighofer (SPG WSC Hertha), Oliver Affenzeller (SPG Wallern/St. Marienkirchen), Fabian Wimmleitner (Gurten), Michael Brugger (WAC amateurs), Philipp Scheucher (Voitsberg), Julian Janetzko (Allerheiligen)

6th round //
Friday, 7 p.m.: Bad Gleichenberg – WAC amateurs, Gleisdorf – ASK Klagenfurt, LASK amateurs OÖ – All Saints, SPG WSC-Hertha/FC Wels – St. Anna/Aigen, SPG Wallern/St. Marienkirchen – Vöcklamarkt, Weiz – Deutschlandsberg; 7.30 p.m.: Forward Steyr – Voitsberg. Saturday, 4 p.m.: Young Vikings Ried – Gurten.