Bundesliga gets underway, Hoffenheim make promising start
The German Bundesliga may be the World’s most unpopular league, but it is undoubtedly a league with the least amount of debt. Also, after the performance of the German national team at the World Cup, the German players are in high demand in the transfer window.
The Bundesliga kicked off last weekend with a bang and no team can be happier about the proceedings of the opening weekends than the small town club Hoffenheim.
Sitting pretty at the top of the league, the Bundesliga’s most frugal club returned to action in style. They claimed a resounding 4-1 win over Werder Bremen at the Rhein-Neckar-Stadion
The mesmeric performance was reminiscent of the good old days of Ralf Rangnick’s 2008 side that played a beautiful brand of direct, one touch football. All h**l broke loose after that impressive season as injuries, media hype and ego clashes marred their next season with the hangover continuing for another season. With plenty of infighting and boardroom conflicts, TSG was flirting dangerously with relegation only to survive by the skin of their teeth.
But this season it’s a new Hoffenhiem outfit with a renewed belief. The General Manager, Jan Schindelmeiser, was sacked last summer along with the most of his staff and problematic dressing room characters. The South American, Franco Zuculini, Wellington and Maicousel were offloaded to various destinations while goal keeper, Timo Hilderbrand, was not offered a new contract. Such was the magnitude of the change that even stalwarts like Jochen Fischer, after playing a pivotal role on the pitch for more than eight years, resigned. Saying that he did not enjoy being at the club anymore, as he wanted to be true to himself and he had no other choice but to resign. He also said that a club like Hoffenheim will not be bothered by his departure and will surely find an appropriate replacement to wear the Hoffi colours.
Another trouble maker, who was sold before the start of the season was the Brazilian international, Carlos Eduardo, who joined Rubin Kazan of Russia for a sum of 20 million Euros. The twenty-three year old only joined the club in 2008 for a paltry sum of 7 million Euros and was the star performer of that season under Rangnick. But the coach grew frustrated with the lack of professionalism of the Brazilian and once said that it simply makes no sense to keep a player who doesn’t identify himself with the club.
Under the new manager, Earnst Turner, Hoffenheim have found a new belief and have worked hard to develop a new spirit of togetherness. The new signing Peniel Mlapa from TSV 1860 has been instrumental since joining the club and is seen as the answer for all their worries in front of goal.
The Togo born striker was raised in the province of Bavaria and this 19-year old had a dream debut. He raced through a defensive mistake by Torsten Frings and made no mistake to give his side the lead making the score 2-1.
Werder looked tired and rugged after their 3-1 win over Sampdoria in the Champions League in and despite going 1-0 up early on could not cope with the fast paced tempo of the game.
Hoffenheim scored 4 times in a space of 23 dizzying minutes as they pressed Bremen into their own half and outplayed them with the dizzying tempo of the game.
Sejad Salihovic, Demba Ba and Vedad Ibisevic all chipped in with a goal apiece and looked as hsarp as ever.
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