Ziereis – and who else? The mystery of St. Pauli’s corona failures

It’s been a long, long time since the start of a training session at FC St. Pauli was so eagerly awaited as it was on Monday afternoon. Shortly before 3 p.m., a look at the playing field on Kollaustraße made it clear who the Corona wave had definitely not hit at the Kiezklub. However, who is infected cannot be said with 100 percent certainty, especially since the club apparently has no intention of disclosing the names.

As expected, it was not a large group of upright people who were able to do their job in the best spring weather. Among the top performers: Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Leart Paqarada, Jakov Medic and Jackson Irvine. Afeez Aremu, Igor Matanovic and Marcel Beifus were also at the start, as well as two keepers in Dennis Smarsch and Sören Ahlers plus youngster Franz Roggow, who has not yet played with the pros.

Two U19 players and a test goalkeeper from Cologne at St. Pauli training

The training group was completed by Til Valentin Kauschke (17) and Lennart Appe (17) from the U19s and test goalkeeper Daniel Adamczyk (19, 1. FC Köln II). Passing exercises and forms of play were on the program until 4:27 p.m. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The slightly ailing Luca Zander, Rico Benatelli and Simon Makienok completed an individual program beforehand or at the same time. “Two or three other players”, who were not named, worked in the fitness room because of minor injuries, according to coach Timo Schultz.

Nine out of twelve: Besides Philipp Ziereis, which professionals are still infected with Corona?

However, it is of some interest which actors were involved. Because in addition to Philipp Ziereis, who is de facto ill, nine players from the following pot are affected by COVID-19: Marcel Hartel, Etienne Amenyido, Nikola Vasilj, Finn Ole Becker, James Lawrence, Christopher Buchtmann, Lukas Daschner, Adam Dzwigala, Max Dittgen, Lars Ritzka, Guido Burgstaller, and Eric Smith. Nine out of twelve, that leaves room for speculation. If the injured Burgstaller and Smith were among those infected, it would mean that a trio from the illustrious circle could be considered for Schalke.

St. Pauli Stand would now get at least one passable starting eleven that could look like this: Smarsch – Zander, Beifus, Medic, Paqarada – Aremu – Irvine, Benatelli – Makienok, Matanovic. Of course, everything continues to move in the subjunctive and will move for some time to come, because further cases of illness in the next few days are anything but impossible.

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It also depends on the development whether a cancellation of the Schalke game will become an issue at all. So far it doesn’t look like it. According to the DFL rules of play, at least 16 licensed players and/or amateurs/contract players eligible to play in the licensed team must be available. These 16 players must include at least nine licensed players, including a goalkeeper. By the way, blocked and injured people are considered “available”.

If at all possible, Schultz will completely forego support from the U23s. Because they have an extremely important home game against HSC Hannover in the regional league relegation round on Sunday. You definitely want to avoid falling into the Oberliga.

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