TSV Steinbach Haiger
Managing Director Wohlfarth: You don’t have to go to the 3rd league, come hell or high water
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Archive photos: Jonas Wenzel/yowegraphy – Most recently, Steinbach Haiger won the Hessen Cup at SG Barockstadt. Left Marcell Sobotta, right SGB kicker Marius Löbig
02.08.2022 – It is the opening opponent of the SG Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz in the new season of the Regionalliga Südwest: on August 6th he is a guest in the Johannisau. It is a club whose name was expanded in 2018: from the district league club TSV Steinbach to TSV Steinbach Haiger. The club rose six times in seven years. He introduced professional structures and – located in the Lahn-Dill district in central Hesse – developed into a top team in the regional league. OSTHESSEN|NEWS presents the first opponent of the baroque city in more detail.
“Many of our competitors have an infrastructure that is suitable for the 3rd division. We are on the right track, but we still have to do something,” says Arne Wohlfarth, managing director of TSV Steinbach Haiger. “We have good conditions. But a stadium that still needs changes – for example, we need new floodlights at some point”. The TSV plays its home games in the Sibre sports center in Haarwasen in Haiger – it offers space for almost 5000 spectators. It sounds plausible when he adds: “We want to take it step by step and make a larger investment every year. We don’t have to go the hell out of it in the 3rd division.”
A book about TSV: Almost 200 pages, numerous stories
It’s worth looking back. With a good 800 residents, Steinbach is a district of Haiger and, as Wohlfarth says, “has always been a typical village association”. Wohlfarth is a special guy: he has been responsible for the club since 2019 – but has been with him since 2015. Also in his previous job: as a sports journalist in Wetzlar. Last year he wrote a book to mark the 100th anniversary. It’s almost 200 pages long. Wohlfarth tells stories in it. Certainly also how the name of the club was expanded – how the sporting boom came about.
It was on a skat evening in 2006 that Roland Kring, managing director of the main sponsor Sibre, and Hans-Gerhard Franz exchanged ideas and discussed how the status quo of Steinbach football could be improved. The aim was to get out of the district league and into the district upper league or, even better, group league. Until then, there was only one ash pitch in Steinbach, and there were hardly any volunteers. Of course, Kring pumped money into the plan to join forces and move forward.
Club changes direction: Brdaric takes over for Cestonaro, professionals also come
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The first year was still difficult, but success came in 2008: In the following seven years, the club rose six times – the crowning glory was the leap into the regional league under the coach from Haiger and ex-Darmstadt striker Peter Cestonaro. Since this year, since 2015, TSV has been part of the regional league – and has always played a good role in the fourth division. The club created the conditions for the new environment, renewed the changing rooms and created a spectator stand. The project went well until the winter break – until the club decided that something had to change. At the end of October 2015, ex-Leverkusen Thomas Brdaric took over for Cestonaro – the club completely redesigned the squad and switched to professional football.
As a preliminary highlight, second place in the regional league jumped out in the canceled Corona season 2020 – the best placement in the club’s history. TSV Steinbach Haiger won the Hessen Cup twice: in 2018 and 2022 (in the semifinals the team won 3-1 at SG Barockstadt at the end of April). The team from central Hesse seems to have a subscription to the final of this competition: however, Steinbach Haiger drew the short straw against third division team Wehen and regional league competitor Offenbach.
Ambiguous after the preparation – speed on the outside positions
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Wohlfarth sees the preparations for the new game series as being rather “ambivalent”. On the one hand “very good, because TSV made a “great performance” against Wehen Wiesbaden (0:1). On the other hand, unhappy because Daniel Gabriele tore his cruciate ligament in the second training session; in addition, five players fall because of ” moderate injuries” for five or six weeks – so they won’t be part of the SG Barockstadt either. Nevertheless, Wohlfarth has a “good feeling”. Speed was brought in, especially on the outside positions.
The squad consists of 29 players, coached by 44-year-old Ersan Parlatan. No fewer than 14 newcomers are now part of the squad – eleven left the club. “A situation of upheaval” describes the personnel reorganization best. Thirteen of the 14 signings did not cost a fee – but the latest one does: Offensive player Mick Gudra from Hannover 96 II has a market value of 50,000 euros. Among the newcomers are: Serkan Firat (Kickers Offenbach), Lloyd-Addo Kuffour (Optik Rathenow), Dennis Owusu (FC Giessen) and Gianluca Korte (Wehen Wiesbaden). Among the departures are Dennis Chessa, Marcell Sobotta and Jannik Bandowski, who were still involved in the 3-1 Hessen Cup victory in Lehnerz at the end of April. The aim is to play at the front. Steinbach Haiger finished the last lap in fourth place. “Our aspiration is to get things moving at the front,” says Wohlfarth.
Small club, professional structures – “Don’t lose sight of the family”
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He regards TSV Steinbach Haiger as a “small club that has built up professional structures”. A completely new training ground has been created and “outstanding conditions” – but it is important “not to lose sight of the family and to always know where we come from”. As far as the sporting orientation is concerned, “TSV wants to play football”. A good opening of the game is part of combining it with technically very good forces. “We’ve gained speed,” emphasizes the managing director, “especially on the flanks. But we also have a good defense.”
The managing director of Kickers Offenbach, Ulm or Homburg is one of the favourites. The youth teams of the Bundesliga must also be taken into account. Freiburg’s U23 surprised two years ago, Mainz 05 last season, and Stuttgart also have a good team. “I also appreciate Bahlinger SC, sixth last year. Not a big name, but they work well there.”
“Want to play the role of favourite. But need a good day in Fulda”
And what does he think of the SG Barockstadt? “It’s a difficult task. Playing against a promoted team on the first matchday. But we’re looking forward to it.” Wohlfarth is certain that everything will be demanded of his team. “We are prepared. But we are also the favorites and want to fill this role. But we need a good day.” (wk) +++
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