Annika Graser and Leonie Kreil are working on the miracle of Jena

The upcoming “home game” in Freiburg is not the only strange thing that Annika Graser and Leonie Kreil are experiencing these days. The sporting situation alone would be difficult enough for the footballers from the Bad Kissingen district, who are fighting for the relegation with the FF USV Jena in the women’s Bundesliga. After 15 games, the Thringers have only two draws, so are still waiting for their first win of the season. The MSV Duisburg on the first non-relegation zone already has ten counters more.

So there is a risk of relegation after promotion – and a tough season finale under difficult conditions with seven games in three weeks. Starting with the ghost kick in the Freiburg Mslestadion on Sunday. And thus 560 kilometers away from the home arena, which due to the corona regulations has not yet been released for gaming. Because team training and competitions are still prohibited in Thringen until June 5, the men had to move from FC Carl Zeiss Jena to the third division restart in Wrzburg, losing 0-1 at Dallenberg to Chemnitz FC. Small group training was only allowed for Jena’s soccer players from May 18. At a time when other Bundesliga clubs were already on the pitch.

Like all other clubs in the women’s football Bundesliga, the university sports club, with its budget of 700,000 euros for a first division club, had voted for a continuation of the season, but also criticized the unequal conditions. “Moving to Freiburg is actually the easiest solution for us. In another alternative stadium outside of Thringen, our preparation effort would be even higher,” says FF-UPS managing director Christoph Schliewe. This is also due to the fact that the team takes the trip to Breisgau directly from the training camp in Grnberg near Gieen in Hesse.

A guest in the sports school

The team has been in the local sports school since the weekend. In addition to Annika Graser and Leonie Kreil, there are 15 other players including coach Christopher Heck, who cannot gather all of the regular players around due to school and work. In any case, only the players who are in Grnberg may appear in Freiburg. The others may start later after two negative corona tests. “We all had two negative tests before the training camp and will be tested again in Grnberg and Freiburg,” says Annika Graser about the procedure.

“Despite the circumstances, it’s just nice to spend more time with the team again. The mood is good too,” says the 20-year-old. The auraer, who has been with FF UPS Jena since 2014, is completing a voluntary, social year at the university clinic in Jena, is currently on the intensive care unit and had been on vacation for quite some time, which is what the training camp Stay facilitated.

Leonie Kreil also enjoys being with her colleagues. “It is a very good feeling. I really missed the cooperation,” says the 22-year-old, who is studying sports management at the Jena University in the fourth semester. “Now the focus is again on football, which makes studying more difficult. But I will gladly accept that,” says the Strmerin, who is able to cope with the double burden thanks to the agreements between university lecturers and the club. Leonie Kreil had spent part of her quarantine period in Poppenroth at home. And there you might also have some thoughts about your sporting future. A stay in Jena is just as possible as a change.

On Pentecost Sunday, training with a duel was on the program for the first time since March. In the weeks without team training, the players were given a running schedule and strength exercises as homework. “Now in Grnberg we pay attention to the dosage to avoid injuries. The physiotherapist who is on site also helps us,” says Annika Graser, who normally plays in the sixth position, ie in defensive midfield. “But it may be that the coach makes some changes because some players are out.”

Hope for the home advantage

Incidentally, Annika Graser can’t do anything with ghost games. “For the first time, I was watching a game in the training camp. Before that, I deliberately didn’t watch games like this because the fans simply belong.” At least for the next three weeks, the Aura native has to make friends with games without a spectator, but at least hope that there will be “real” home games in Jena in the near future.

At least it is certain that Annika Graser will remain an integral part of the Thringer team even in the event of a relegation. Where changes are pending for the coming new season because the FF USV Jena has transferred the rights of play for all women’s and girls’ teams to FC Carl Zeiss Jena for its new sports director and former player Tobias Werner. “I’m curious to see how it will be,” says Annika Graser.

Now, however, a medium-sized miracle is needed so that a soccer first division team will be at home in the 110,000-inhabitant city in the new season.

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• Bad Kissingen

• General (not subject-specific) universities

• Carl Zeiss Group

• Carl Zeiss Jena

• Women’s leagues

• FC Carl Zeiss Jena

• Soccer players

• Homework

• MSV Duisburg

• Physiotherapists

• schools

• semester

• Sports directors

• University hospitals

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