Kickers Offenbach’s season-opening games in the Southwest Regional Football League provided many stories. After six years, the OFC starts again at Wormatia Worms.
Offenbach – Offenbacher Kickers start their tenth consecutive regional league season on Sunday (2 p.m.) at newly promoted Wormatia Worms. In the previous opening encounters there was only one defeat (three wins, five draws) and a curious series in which Worms was also involved. An overview.
Saison 2013/14
TuS Koblenz – OFC 0:2 (0:2). The forced relegation from the 3rd league has a now-even more effect. A red and white fan caravan makes its way to Koblenz on the first day of the game and makes the game a home game in terms of atmosphere. Around half of the viewers are OFC supporters. Buoyed by this atmosphere, the team clinched a well-deserved victory. In Christian Cappek, one of the many casting winners makes everything clear with a brace (10th, 28th). Dennis Schulte and Fabian Bäcker, who are now reunited as players and coaches with the Germania Ober-Roden league, are providing the assists.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Maier (75th Theodosiadis), Wilke, Modica, Schulte – Gjasula (80th Biggel) – Mangafic, Wittke, Schwarz, Bäcker (81st Yakut) – Cappek – Trainer: Rico Schmitt
Saison 2014/15
FK Pirmasens – OFC 3:0 (1:0). The OFC fans among the 2954 spectators go home sobered. All goals conceded come from high balls. The team’s reaction to the defeat at the start is more than impressive. Coach Rico Schmitt’s team remained unbeaten in the following 29 league games, won the title with ease, but failed in the promotion games at 1. FC Magdeburg.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Maier (46th Cappek), Schulte, Modica (67th Von der Burg), Theodosiadis – Gjasula, Mangafic, Korb, Schwarz (46th Gallus), Becker – Müller – Trainer: Rico Schmitt
Saison 2015/16
Hessen Kassel – OFC 2: 2 (0: 0). A few minutes before the end, the OFC looks like the sure winner in the Hessian north-south duel in front of 5300 spectators after goals from Martin Röser (52nd) and Benjamin Pintol (61st). But Shqipon Bektasi hits twice in the final phase (83rd, 90th + 2) and snatches victory from the OFC. It is the beginning of a curious opening game series.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Maier (76th basket), Gebers, Franke, Theodosiadis – Gjasula, Röser, Schwarz (81st Maslanka), Pintol, Bäcker (90th Dobros) – Müller – Trainer: Rico Schmitt
Saison 2016/17
Wormatia Worms – OFC 2:2 (0:1). Again the OFC has to settle for a 2:2 lead after a 2:0 lead. This time, however, due to the special circumstances, it feels like a victory. The Kickers start the season with nine points deducted due to an insolvency application. In Tim Korzuschek and Nicola Jürgens, coach Oliver Reck has to summon two A-youths to fill out the game report sheet. After twelve minutes Benjamin Kirchhoff sees red in front of 2280 spectators. Reason: emergency brake. Despite being outnumbered, OFC leads 2-0 thanks to goals from Dren Hodja (18th/FE, 54th). But as time went on, the kickers ran out of strength. Worms equalized with a brace from Arif Güclü (70th, later FSV Frankfurt, now TSV Steinbach) and Alan Stulin (74th). When Maik Vetter sees yellow-red (83rd), the OFC begins to tremble. Then as now in action for Worms: Sandro Loechelt.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Vetter, Kirchhoff, Schulte, Theodosiadis – Scheu (76th Stoilas), Maslanka, Rapp, Firat (90th Frey) – Hodja (68th Sentürk), Gaul – Trainer: Oliver Reck
Saison 2017/18
1899 Hoffenheim II – OFC 2:2 (0:2). History repeats itself again. At the break, OFC leads 2-0 through goals from Hodja (31./FE) and Florian Treske (45.). But again the team has to be content with a 2:2. Philipp Ochs (62′) and Joao Klaus (89′) equalize for the Hoffenheim reserves.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Marx, Maier, Kirchhoff, Theodosiadis (86th Schulte) – Vetter (65th Hecht-Zirpel), Hodja, Göcer, Firat – Darwiche, Treske (79th Akgöz) – Trainer: Oliver Reck
Saison 2018/19
OFC – SV Elversberg 1:1 (0:0). In the first game under coach Daniel Steuernagel the expectations of the OFC fans among the 6664 spectators are high. Access Kevin Ikpide is booed after a few mistakes and substituted at half-time. But the Kickers’ game isn’t getting any better. Sinan Tekerci gave Elversberg the overdue lead (54′). With his goal to make it 1-1 (75th), Benjamin Kirchhoff ensures that the OFC gets a flattering point.
Kickers Offenbach: Endres – Marx, Albrecht, Kirchhoff, Schulte (76th Stoilas) – Darwiche, Ikpide (46th Sawada), Hodja, Firat – Vetter, Treske – coach Daniel Steuernagel
Saison 2019/20
OFC – SSV Ulm 1846 2:0 (0:0). This time it works with the opening win. After a goalless first half, “Rhön-Bomber” Moritz Reinhard gave the Kickers the lead (49′). Andis Shala makes everything clear for the Steuernagel team in front of 7041 spectators (75th).
Kickers Offenbach: Draband – Schikora, Gohlke, Pezzoni, Marcos – Vetter, Weil, Campagna (79th Garic), Daghfous (72nd Pyssalo) – Reinhard, Shala (83rd Albrecht) – Trainer: Daniel Steuernagel
Saison 2020/21
OFC – Bahlinger SC 0:0. Due to Corona, only 100 spectators are allowed in the stadium. They see a superior OFC who doesn’t use his chances. Serkan Firat gives the best, who fails with a penalty kick from guest goalkeeper Geng (14th). Coach Angelo Barletta (“It will be a tough game”) was right.
Kickers Offenbach: Flauder – Calabrese, Zieleniecki, Karbstein, Marcos – Deniz (65. Huseinbasic), Campagna (46. Garic), Firat – Tuma (78. Hoppe), Reinhard, Sobotta – Trainer: Angelo Barletta
Saison 2021/22
OFC – FC Homburg 1:0 (0:0). “Joker Bozic stabs, Flauder parries” was the headline in our newspaper after the narrow opening success. Coach Sreto Ristic substitutes victory in front of 4501 spectators in Dejan Bozic. The striker had been on the pitch for just three minutes when he scored the decisive goal. Shortly before the end, goalkeeper Stephan Flauder holds the three points and scrapes the ball out of the corner after a free kick from Markus Mendler.
Kickers Offenbach: Flauder – Breitenbach, Zieleniecki, Karbstein, Marcos – Okungbowa, Hermes (65. Ramaj), Huseinbasic, Deniz (84. Bojaj), Firat (93. Stark) – Soriano (65. Bozic) – Trainer: Sreto Ristic
By Christian Düncher
Kickers with more than 1000 fans to Worms
The Offenbacher Kickers can look forward to what feels like a home game in the season-opening game at Wormatia Worms. Of the approximately 1,500 tickets made available to the OFC, 1,095 had already been sold by Wednesday, as reported by Kickers Managing Director Matthias Georg. On the first day of advance booking alone, 400 tickets were sold for the match on Sunday (2 p.m.) in the EWR Arena. (CD)
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