What's going on in Rünenberg
5

Not a dime

By
Sir Schluurggi
– 21/05/2013

It is the eighth edition of the HTUM Challenge Trophy which is running these days and the Gold Rushers mentioned their aim to reach the semifinals once more.

But the group stage wasn’t really promising and the opponent in the quarterfinal was one of the stronger sides within the tournament and therefore the favorite in this encounter. Therefore the Czech team FCOB Kamenice was mentioned to be the winner in the internal ‘Guess game’ from all the managers who put a prediction. Nobody bet a dime on a win of the Gold Rushers but Sir Schluurggi did. We are not sure what his intention was to do so; did he really believe in a win of his team? Or was it meant to provoke Kamenice and their manager Xrust? Or was it simply because he as the manager of the team has to show faith? We tried to talk to him before the match was whistled to be kicked off, but we failed.

The group stage seemed to be a tough one when it was announced by the organizers. With Klaukkala Bears, Horus Falcons and the Blue Hornets (FC X-team) it should become a breathtaking decision if the Gold Rushers will make it to the quarters or miss the qualification for the third time. The Bears and the Rushers met in the final game and Rünenberg had to win the game, after they won against the Hornets and played a draw against the Falcons, to be qualified for sure. In the end another draw was enough since the Falcons and the Hornets both weren’t able to score and played a goalless draw.

With one close win and two draws the team of Coach Dario Pfyl met with the winner of the so called ‘group of death’ and the rehearsal on Saturday ended in a result that couldn’t be called motivating. Malte Wehrda was able to give the home team a nice lead of 2-0 before the break, but the guys failed to raise that even more and then Energie Meggen scored the reducer and finally the equalizer eight respectively one minute before the final whistle was blown. Another draw, it seems like the mates should get a new nickname ‘kings of draw’.

Since we failed to talk to Sir Schluurggi before the game, we tried to get Coach Dario Pfyl or someone else to ask one or two questions but for some reasons there was no one available or willing to talk to us, therefore we had to watch the game without any information about it. Kamenice is known for their strength in playing counter attacks and we tried to figure out how Coach Dario Pfyl wanted to avoid them to use this tactic and we realized that the Gold Rushers were focused on keeping the ball within their lines and shoot from far instead of trying to get into the box. But all long shots missed the target and the first goal was scored from an attempt from the right side, when Bruno Aoustin scored with a dropkick. The equalizer was scored by Zděnek Lacek finishing one of the many counters and because these two goals have been all in ninety minutes (another draw) and also after extra time, the last semifinalist had to be found in an exciting penalty-shootout including not less than sixteen penalties!

While Arnold Meneske missed the first shot of Rünenberg he managed to save the last of the first five of FCOB Kamenice. All other players hit the target without giving the keepers a chance to save one of the shots, until Zděnek Lacek’s shot could be saved by Arnold Meneske. The pressure on Marcel Nuehrich was huge; he could become the man who gives the Gold Rushers their second semifinal… and he made it! The Gold Rushers won this exciting and entertaining match with a final score of 8-7! Short after the game we finally had the chance to get a statement of manager Sir Schluurggi:

Yes, I truly believed in a win of our team, when I predicted it. We, Coach Dario Pfyl and me, spent hours of finding the most promising way to face the very strong Czechs and we decided to act like we did, because according to our knowledge it would be the only way to gain a win, even it would be (as we now know) an extremely close one. We are happy and proud to play another semifinal and all of us are looking forward to meet the third Czech team in this edition of the Trophy!

The Gold Rushers will meet the team of manager Ballinho, the founder of the HTUM Challenge Trophy, FC Prague Slivers in the semis for the first time in a tournament. This will be another energy-sapping encounter for sure, but first they’ll play their second game in the Cup and in the League.

Tags: ,
4

Ruby Wednesday

By
Sir Schluurggi
– 16/05/2013

The Gold Rushers sang: “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby!” and Luwin’s players wondered: “could it be, could it be that you’re joking with me?”

This season’s first round in the Switzerland Cup took the team of Coach Dario Pfyl to St Gall in the northeast of our small country. The opponent was a team called Luwin, which started in season 38 and celebrated a seventh rank in the sixth division as the biggest success in their history. Today the team has no manager anymore and was relegated to the eighth (and lowest) division of our country. Therefore a win for the Gold Rushers was out of question.

The game was only two minutes running when Cornelius Dahmer opened the score. What a beginning, it seemed like the players of Rünenberg had still a huge confidence since they won the meeting in Brazil against Los Mejores a week ago and reached a draw on Monday in the HTUM Challenge Trophy against Klaukkala Bears, which gave them the qualification for the quarter final next Monday. But let’s stay in St Gall where the home team managed to keep the score close for half an hour, until Janosch Eppelsheimer scored his first goal for Rünenberg and rose the score to 2-0. Only seven minutes later it was the second wingback, Erwin Lanz, in the team of the Gold Rushers who was able to put the ball in the target and the lead was three.

And then it began, the Ruby Wednesday! We collected the original passages from the official match report:

“Dave Ruby received a delicate pass through the home side’s central defence after 42 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 0-4. The Rünenberg fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early.”

“It was showtime for artist Dave Ruby who showed off his technical mastery when he rounded Eduard Saubot and finished with a goal to make the score 0-5.“

“A drive down the left side allowed Dave Ruby to get in close and score another goal for Rünenberg after 68 minutes, taking the score to 0-6. That made three goals for Dave Ruby and he was marked down for the hattrick.”

But there was no time to celebrate the three goals of Dave Ruby in his first appearance in an official game, because Eugenio Cioccarelli buried the ball in the net when he could kick a penalty only one minute later. The remaining twenty minutes belonged to Coach Dario Pfyl who substituted three players and the midfielders, at least two of them. Nik Zenger and Bruno Ginesu scored together three goals and set the score-line to 0-10.

Dave Ruby is a nineteen year old forward with technical specialty and joined the team in week twelve of the last season. He played five friendlies since he signed the contract and scored already two goals during these games. Taking today’s hattrick in account he scored five goals in six matches, what gives him a ratio of nearly one goal per game! Coach Dario Pfyl is very pleased by the young man’s appearance:

This young man can become a cult player one day, if he keeps his good work going, not only in our team but also in the Federation and of course in the Golden League. The way he acts reminds me on one of the greatest number tens in the world! His excellent technic makes it a pleasure to watch him playing the ball! I’m truly happy about having him in the team.

It will be very interesting to follow the career of this young promising man. Maybe we’ll see him play in Saturday’s season opening game against Energie Meggen at the Mill or in the quarterfinal on Monday against FCOB Kamenice. But before that RJs are on duty to earn more points against the Piglets from Oceania on Friday evening.

Tags: , , , , ,
1

Team introduction

By
Sir Schluurggi
– 13/05/2013

The new season is about to begin and the management of Rünenberg’s Gold Rushers are proud to introduce the team for the upcoming 13th season.

Even though there are some players who left the team, there won’t be many changes since the squad was well prepared already. Two former defenders of RJs have left the team after a season of training in defending. Damien Fouque and Yoann Pouly both reached a skill level of formidable and they got contracts in Chile and Italy respectively. Both teams, Golden Boys F.C. and Pota F.C., are actually playing in lower domestic leagues, but we’re sure they’ll make their way up and hopefully the two young men can help them.

Two more players left the team, both well-known and their intention to leave was mentioned long before. Balthasar Kölle, a powerful forward left the club after only two seasons because he couldn’t surpass his mates and never played a league game during this time. He signed a contract for a club called MKS Szczytno in a lower league in Poland. And the other player is of course our team legend Dölf Bilon, who was saluted and seen off in style as reported in this article.

While the two first mentioned have not been and won’t be replaced besides there is acute need for, Balthasar Kölle was already replaced when Dave Ruby joined the team some weeks ago. Even though there is no possibility to replace Dölf Bilon a new face joined the team this Saturday, a young man called Alessandro Gremminger, who shall fill the spot at least. Alessandro has interesting skills already and is unpredictable.

The complete squad for the global season 52 is looking like this:

Gold Rushers – check the squad-page

The two men who will share their place between the poles are Arnold Meneske, our captain who’s starting his already tenth season since he came from RJs, and Serge Noftziger, who earned respect during the second Golden League season already and now starts his fifth season in the blue kit. Together they kept the sheet for more than sixty times clean.

The following six men are trying to give the two keepers calm ninety minutes. While Marcel Nuehrich and Domenico Amrein are real central defenders there are four wingbacks who are also able to perform in the center if there is need for. Simone Casano, Frédéric Letellier, Erwin Lanz and of course Janosch Eppelsheimer are the ones who should close the side paths and support the attackers with rushes or long passes on the wings. Domenico and Simone are staring their fifth season while Janosch and Erwin have only played one until now.

When the defence was able to stop an opponent’s attempt these ten men shall be responsible to keep the ball and earn as much ball possession as possible. Bruno Aoustin, Bruno Ginesu, Nico, Romain Krecker and Hans-Martin Lorenzi are the most important players beside Nik Zenger to do that in the central midfield. They are supported by newcomer Alessandro Gremminger, former RJs talents Noah Forrer, Gaudenz Straub and of course Eugenio Cioccarelli. These guys have not only the job to keep the ball but also to provide the forwards and central midfielders with great crossings from both sides.

Once the ball reaches the opponents box, there are five forwards who shall become strikers and bring the glory to the small town in Basel countryside. Dave Ruby joined the team only a few weeks ago and has accompanied the more experienced Guido Dübendorfer, Cornelius Dahmer and Malte Wehrda. The quintet is completed by another young former talent of RJs, Joël Taillefer. These five players scored already 117 goals in different competitions, not counting the tournament games, for the Gold Rushers.

All these players and the complete staff is looking forward to start this upcoming season and earn as much gold as they can, no matter where they’ll find it, but as we all know (see the last article) they’ll focused on the domestic league. Before we end this post, the newest member of the team, Alessandro Gremminger, has something to say:

I’m very happy coming back to Switzerland after my trips to Vietnam, Poland and finally Germany! I learned a lot at my previous stations but now it’s time to settle down and put my skills in the favor of a team like the Gold Rushers. And I promise to give what I can to make the opponent’s life a bit harder when they meet us on the pitch.

Tags: , ,
Older Entries