SC Paderborn got off to an excellent start in the second division season. Coach Ralf Kettemann’s team goes into the game as favorites against neighbor Arminia Bielefeld.
Of course: the stadium in Paderborn is completely sold out on Saturday. Arminia Bielefeld comes to SC, the East Westphalia derby has been the topic of conversation in the region for days.
With four wins in a row, the SCP goes into the home game with a tailwind. Coach Ralf Kettemann still warns against arrogance: “We have to be awake.” Even though Bielefeld recently suffered three defeats, Arminia are very willing to run and press aggressively. “There will be little time on the ball. It will probably go back and forth on the pitch,” said Kettemann about the expected intensity of the game.
No dent after change of coach
The fact that the SCP is currently brilliantly placed within striking distance of the promotion ranks with 17 points from eight games is quite surprising. After the departure of coach Lukas Kwasniok, who had been very successful for many years, most experts thought that the SCP would first have to find itself again in terms of sport. And inevitably the performance could slip into a dip.
But this is exactly what didn’t happen. Kettemann, who acquired his football teaching license last year and celebrated sensational successes as a youth coach at Karlsruher SC, made the transition to senior football almost seamlessly.
“I’ve completely arrived”
In an interview with “Transfermarkt.de” Kettemann is happy: “As far as the club and the people are concerned, I feel completely arrived. The sporting situation is certainly helping in these weeks that the overall mood is good and that there are one or two more smiles.”
It was clear from the start: the people of Paderborn were particularly interested in Kettemann because he had proven that he could work very well with young people. The driving force behind the transfer was Paderborn’s sports director at the time, Benjamin Weber, who himself dared to make the jump to the Bundesliga, to FC Augsburg, a short time later.
Huge development of the young players
“Of course, it was strange at first when the person who came to get you left himself. But at the same time as he was leaving Paderborn, I started a very demanding new job and found myself in the tunnel,” says Kettemann about his unusual start.
Kettemann compensated for the loss of top performers like Ilyas Ansah and Aaron Zehnter, who left the club, by developing young people. In addition to 1. FC Nürnberg, the SCP now has the youngest squad in the league, with keeper Dennis Seimen and especially Luis Engelns having developed explosively.
Starter Engelns impressed
Engelns, who came from Paderborn’s youth ranks, celebrated his professional debut in Paderborn almost exactly a year ago and has already become an indispensable regular player in Paderborn’s midfield this season.
Enormous development: Luis Engelns
The 18-year-old native of Hamburg has gained enormously, especially physically, as Kettemann describes: “Luis has undergone a very strong development in terms of duel strength and physical robustness. He has always been a smart player.”
Kniat: “It will be an extremely intense game”
The Paderborn team will also have to play smart against Arminia Bielefeld. Their coach Mitch Kniat, who himself worked in Paderborn for four and a half years, expects a top duel: “It will be an extremely intense game, that’s what both teams are known for. Paderborn will come at us high, defend compactly and switch quickly. These are all indications that it will be an intensive game in which little things will decide the victory.”
Our sources:
- Homepage SC Paderborn
- Homepage Arminia Bielefeld
- sports information service
- Website Transfermarkt.de
