CfR Pforzheim go into probably their biggest match in their short history. The club was founded in 2010 with the merger of VfR Pforzheim and FC Pforzheim, who clocked up impressive results in the past as runners-up in the German championships in 1906 and by going through to the last 32 of the DFB Cup in 1988. In 2015, the amalgamation of the ‘clubs for field sports’ led to promotion to the fifth-tier Baden-Württemberg Oberliga, where the club has played ever since. After the first two successful seasons, Pforzheim ended in thirteenth position last term but they did have an outstanding run in the Baden State Cup. CfR progressed to the final against clear favourites Karlsruher SC and they were on the verge of creating a sensation in the penalty shootout. Defender Robert Stark could have sealed the biggest success in the club’s history with his final attempt from the penalty spot. Unfortunately, his penalty went just wide of the target and Pforzheim ended up losing the final. Nevertheless, they did get their just rewards: As KSC qualified for the DFB Cup by finishing third in division three last season that meant they did not need to win the state cup to qualify. That put Pforzheim through in their place to face Bender, Brandt & Co.
The CfR team is definitely not a typical amateur side. Many of the players in the squad have played at a professional level with a number in Bundesliga reserve teams. Possibly the most familiar name in the line-up is the regular keeper Manuel Salz, who made three appearances in goal for SC Freiburg, including one game against Bayer 04. Bayer 04 fans will have good memories of that encounter unlike Salz most probably. When the two sides met in August 2009, he had to pick the ball out of the net five times with Tranquillo Barnetta and Eren Derdiyok both bagging a brace. That was to be the last Bundesliga game for Salz. In addition to the goalkeeper, CfR also have players in the squad with European experience. The club has former Turkish cup winner in Fatih Ceylan, an Albanian champion in Kushtrim Lushtaku, and an international player in their ranks since the summer. Striker Stanley Ratifo has six caps for Mozambique and in the close season he moved from the FC Köln reserve team to Pforzheim. The CfR management staged a coup with the signing of Ratifo: Several third division teams were interested in the 23-year-old but Ratifo opted, including on occupational grounds, to make his way to Pforzheim where he will be a key player up front for the team coached by Gökhan Gökce (pictured above).
Eleven new signings, twelve departures in the summer – represents an incredible change in the CfR squad after the last campaign. Integrating the new players and compensating for the departures presented a big challenge to the 34-year-old coach Gökce in his first pre-season as a head coach after he took over the helm last October. The season did not get off to a good start: On matchday one in the Baden-Württemberg Oberliga, Pforzheim lost 2-1 at FSV Bissingen. There was some discord amongst the Cup euphoria due to a discussion about the venue for the tie against Bayer 04. Moving the game to the Wildpark Stadium in Karlsruhe was discussed to enable the club to sell more tickets. “It wouldn’t have made any difference financially,” said the club chairman Markus Geiser in an interview on the club website – particularly in view of the fact that KSC are at home to Hannover 96 the following day. So the match will be played at the Holzhof Stadium in Pforzheim with a capacity of 10,000.
This young club is run very professionally, has a young set of coaches and includes a number of players with clear ability. Above all, signings like Stanley Ratifo show: CfR is a very attractive club in the Oberliga that is continually looking to move forward. And the first appearance in the DFB Cup will further increase the profile of the club and the income from the match against Bayer 04 should also contribute to continuing on that path. In this section of the German football pyramid it is very difficult to take huge steps but that is not the aim of Pforzheim and that has suited them very well so far.
As an Oberliga team, CfR obviously go into the match as underdogs. No team in this year’s first round play below the fifth-tier and it would be a big surprise if any of the eight teams from that division go through to the next round. However, that thought should lead to a certain amount of euphoria – and a great afternoon of football for both teams.
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