On September 19, 2020, Florian Kosel took office as chairman of the Weinviertel Spartans. Two and a half years later, what the 37-year-old said was one of his goals was finally implemented: to build up his own youth. It is now certain that the Spartans will take part in this year’s flag football championship with a U13, as hoped. The club’s first youth team is born. Kosel is accordingly happy: “The fact that we managed to nominate an U13 for the championship is a really big hit for us.”
Kosel will lead the way with his “heart project” and look after the new team as a coach – and sometimes travel with them across Austria. The junior competitions take place across Austria, 15 teams are divided into two divisions. The Mistelbachers will go to Ybbs on the first day of the game on April 16th, two weeks later to Innsbruck. The last day of play before the final day will take place in Mistelbach on June 18th.
Since Monday, the field has been defying the cold
Incidentally, the preparations for the new challenge have been going on for months, and training has been going on since September. In the winter, the Weinviertel entourage moved indoors, and since Monday work has been going on in the fields again in Mistelbach. “Even if it’s cold,” says Kosel, “but we need the field and the game-related situations.” Because everyone in the club is aware that the first season won’t be easy, as Kosel outlines: “Experience has shown that you don’t have that in football the greatest chance of success. In any case, our claim is that each of our players gets a chance.”
The squad currently consists of 14 players, more are welcome. This is one of the reasons why the club is once again taking part in an Austria-wide tryout on February 25. From 4 p.m. football fans – children and adults, men and women – can try out the sport. “Our goal is to ensure a large crowd here,” Kosel outlines his wishes. Because the U13 should only be the beginning. The dream would be to have U13s and U11s in flag football next year and, in the medium term, U16s and U18s in American football.
