Carinthia’s state governor Peter Kaiser was sure that nothing would go wrong for SK Sturm in the Champions League duel with FC Brugge when he spoke before kick-off Hermann Schützenhöfer spotted in the VIP club of the Wörthersee Stadium. The reason: The former Styrian governor, a self-confessed Sturm-Knofel, is considered the ultimate lucky charm. “I went to games at the Wörthersee Stadium five times, one international match and four Sturm cup finals and there was always a win,” revealed Schützenhöfer with a smile.
Hubert Patterer and Friedrich Santner © GEPA
In keeping with the occasion, both also chatted about their own football past. Kaiser once chased after the big bucks with the boys at Austria Klagenfurt. “But then I became a table tennis player.” And Schützenhöfer was a right defender at the southeast Styrian club TUS Kirchbach. He was less noticeable in terms of play. “I was a roughneck and took a few penalties,” said the former politician with a laugh.
The Styrian wooden spoon virtuoso had completely different “problems”. Hans Peter Fink. He uncovered a culinary “faux pas” – at least from a Styrian perspective. “There is no pumpkin seed oil in the VIP club and that at a SK Sturm Champions League game,” the top chef, who has been awarded three Gault & Millau toques, said with a wink.
Christian Purrer, lawyer Georg Eisenberger and Andres Sauseng © GEPA
The remaining culinary delicacies that were served to the VIPs more than made up for the loss of pumpkin seed oil. And so numerous celebrities from both sides of the world feasted on fine onion roast, pike-perch fillet, vegetable lasagne and poultry wok.
ÖFB President, among others, also liked it Klaus Mitterdorferthe Styrian sports council Karlheinz Kornhäusl, Christian Purrerboard spokesman for Energie Steiermark, Casino Graz director Andreas SausengBühnen Graz managing director Bernhard RinnerSecretary General of the Economic Association and National Councilor Kurt Eggerhis Carinthian National Council colleague Peter Weidingerthe Anton Paar CEO and Styria supervisory board chairman Friedrich SantnerSmall newspaper editor-in-chief Hubert PattererKlagenfurt’s mayor Christian Scheider or Sturm’s former glorious Champions League director Hannes Reinmayr.
“Kollerwirt” Tom Soete and Klaus Mitterdorfer © GEPA
And then there was “special guest” Sweet TomBelgian native, FC Bruges fan and legendary “Kollerwirt” in Tanzenberg between St. Veit and Klagenfurt for many years. A few weeks ago he was the victim of a brutal robbery, but he was allowed to do so at the personal invitation of Sturm President Christian Jauk keep his fingers crossed for his Belgian compatriots.
