Mainz (dpa) – The Rhineland-Palatinate Sports Minister Roger Lewentz was “with all my heart” happy about the promotion of 1. FC Kaiserslautern to the 2nd Bundesliga.
“The whole Palatinate and the great fans have more than earned this successful first stage of the ascent marathon,” said the SPD politician. “Betzenberg, which sold out several times in the 3rd division (!), belongs back in the upper house of German football.” After going 0-0 in the first leg, Kaiserslautern won the relegation second leg at Dynamo Dresden 2-0 on Tuesday evening.
Even as a young boy, Lewentz was not only a fan of his hometown club in Kamp-Bornhofen, “but also an ardent supporter of FCK”. That’s why he, as chairman of the Fritz Walter Foundation, is “happy about this great and well-deserved success of the association”.
Dreyer: “With a lot of passion”
“The Red Devils managed to get promoted back to the second division with great willpower, a lot of passion and their great fans behind them,” said the SPD politician. The team showed what can be achieved with team spirit. “I’m looking forward to the games in the 2nd Bundesliga for the fans, the city and the region and personally,” said Dreyer.
Ex-coach praises “outstanding performance”
On the other hand, ex-coach Marco Antwerpen not only followed the promotion with joy, but also with some melancholy. “The team, the whole club, did a great job. After a difficult start to the season, the team worked its way up bit by bit,” he told TV station Sport1. “The players put their egos aside and have stayed in the top group for a long time. Which is an outstanding achievement given the level of performance in the 3rd division. I’m proud of the lads.”