Farewell despite climbing? Kordall fears for key personnel

« Before the beginning of the play-offs, nobody expected the climb, » recalls Philip Dejworkek, coach of the Kordall Steelers, of the time when the return to the Enovos League appeared for his team. Work concerns and great pressure to perform left the goal output, the direct reappraisal, moved in a long way.

« It was impossible to do it, » captain Max Schmit agrees with his coach. And yet the Steelers succeeded in pulling the helm around again. « The team caught up at the right time and believed in itself, » says Dejworkek a reason for the change.

The quality within the second division has also played a crucial role. « I found the level a little worse this year than the years before, » says the 46-year-old. On the one hand, the coach sees possible causes in the financial area, and on the other hand with the players themselves. « Many local young players prefer to sit on the bank in the first division than to collect in the second game practice. That is already noticeable. »

Schmit and Co. played this into the cards when chase. « You can better correct your mistakes than in the first division, » explains the captain. In this, the Steelers have to prove themselves again from the coming season. Not an easy task, as Schmit knows. « It will be difficult. We have to be clearly reinforced, both among the Luxembourgers and among the Americans. » There is also a need to catch up when it comes to discipline. « We were only six or seven players in training more often. That has to change next season if we want to survive in the first division. »

High load

Despite the challenges, the joy of the recurrence is great. The coach is pleased several times that the merger club made it again after just one season. « I really wanted this team to play again in the first division. That was my personal goal, » he says. Since Dejworkek had failed several times on the climb with Avanti Mondorf in the past, it is also an individual success for him.

It is unclear whether the 46-year-old will also be at the Steelers as a coach next season. He is currently more than busy with family, work and training. Surprising a first division team would be too much of a good thing. « I don’t know how to connect all of this, » Dejworsk gives an honest insight.

So the club needs a trainer who can work more intensively with the team than it is currently feasible for him. The farewell is not yet sealed. « I will sit down with the board and see what options we have. »

If it went after the club, a whereabouts from Dejworkk would be the desired scenario. « The goal of the club is to keep it, » suspects Schmit. « I hope he stays, but of course it is also a long way for him, » emphasizes the 33-year-old the strenuous journey from Germany that his trainer takes.

Although Schmit understands the tricky situation in which Dejworkek is, the 46-year-old would not only be lost for him. « He is a very cool guy, also human. » This connects the two more than just the love of sport. Your work as an educator is also an upcoming topic. « We talked a lot about that, » says Schmit. Dejworkek, who has only been performing the job since September, asked him from time to time for advice, which caused a lively exchange.

In general, the captain likes the dynamics that prevails in the small club. « It’s a family atmosphere, » says Schmit. « It’s a lot about whether the players feel comfortable. » And the 33-year-old, who has been playing for the Steelers since 2016. In the coming season, Kordall can continue to count on his veteran. « I will surely be on one season, » said the captain.