Interview with Andreas Albert (Managing Director Sport TSV Bad Königshofen): “I didn't want to admit our strength myself”

TSV Bad Königshofen is once again on course for the play-offs in the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) after more than two thirds of the points round following its semi-final premiere last year. In this interview, Sports Managing Director Andreas Albert talks about the latest winning streak, the team philosophy and the growing appeal of the Franconians.

Andy Albert, your TSV Bad Königshofen goes into the TTBL's chasing duel with Borussia Düsseldorf, who are level on points, after the WTT break with the tailwind of no fewer than five successive victories. How do you feel about this run with a little distance?

Once again, it's amazing what the boys have achieved, especially when you consider that we had to play without Bastian Steger at the start... But you can tell that things are going well for us.

What were your expectations for the end of the first and beginning of the second half of the season?

When we found out about Basti's hand injury in the fall, we thought it would be very, very difficult for us. But we were able to win all the close matches because Jin Ueda played in brilliant form, Filip Zeljko is continuing to improve and will soon be able to beat a single player, and Martin Allegro is a force in the final doubles.

You mention your strength in doubles: Six out of eight doubles matches so far this season have gone to your team. What role do doubles play in your tactical considerations?

We were already strong in doubles last season and we've managed to build on that seamlessly. We always consider the doubles to be very important because a lot can always happen in the four singles matches beforehand.

Bad Königshofen is now level with cup winners TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen and Düsseldorf at the top of the table after its first play-off appearance this season. Would you have dared to hope for such a constellation at such an advanced stage of the season?

Not necessarily, we didn't expect to be literally on an equal footing.

Strictly speaking, the match is their second home game of the season against Düsseldorf, after the Borussia home game was played in Würzburg in the fall...

You can see it that way. But this time we have a real home advantage thanks to our fans in our arena, whereas the game in Würzburg wasn't really a home game for us despite the geographical proximity - which perhaps also had an impact on the result.

What was different in Würzburg?

It was more of a Timo Boll farewell match, the spectators mainly came to see Timo play again, but were generally rather neutral. It will be different for us, because the fans come to Bad Königshofen to support our team.

There is a real euphoria surrounding your team in your home region. Can this enthusiasm carry your team back into the play-offs?

Almost regardless of the mood at the clubs, anything is still possible. This season, almost everyone is beating everyone else.

One reason for this is the frequent rotations....

That may be the case. But it's still unacceptable that we're sometimes only portrayed as the beneficiaries of this development or even insulted. That's rubbish, because it's always been our policy when putting our team together that players like Steger or Ueda should fully identify with our Bundesliga team and be involved in every game - and that makes all the difference in times like today. We are where we are because of our course and not by chance or by the grace of other teams. On the contrary, the whole league doesn't always look so good when one team or another can't bring enough players to the table due to other commitments of their professionals.

Shortly after Bad Königshofen's play-off appearance last season, some people considered the surprise success to be a flash in the pan. Has this impression been disproved by your recent run of success?

In discussions with sponsors before the start of the season, I myself ruled out a repeat - the league simply seemed too strong to me because most of the other teams had upgraded again. But now we're back at the top.

Maybe you are that strong after all?

Yes, that's the thing: I didn't want to admit our strength myself. But we're already realizing that we can keep up with the strongest teams, and not just on exceptional days.

Is the stabilization of your club in the top flight also reflected in the signing of the highly-rated talent Andre Bertelsmeier for the new season? After all, Düsseldorf also made an effort to sign him...

When a young player chooses us over Borussia Düsseldorf, it really shows that Bad Königshofen has a good name and is almost a small global brand on social media channels thanks to our connections to Japan, especially as we have a good training group and are building up a growing performance center. Nevertheless, despite Andre's departure, we will probably have to bake smaller rolls again for the time being due to Jin Ueda's departure, even if Andre's character can trigger a new euphoria in our family environment.

You've already mentioned Jin Ueda's return to Japan. Was he unstoppable, even though he had become a kind of face of your team?

He's actually very popular, his standing has now reached the level of Steger or Zeljko. I still jokingly tell him that we won't let him go. But due to the circumstances, including for his school-age children, his whole family has decided to return home to Japan. We have to accept that, as difficult as it is for us.

In addition to Ueda, Allegro will also be leaving your team for TTBL rivals TTC Zugbrücke Grenzau. Hadn't you also hoped that he would stay?

We knew that he had an offer from France with the possibility of playing in the Champions League. We didn't expect him to go to Grenzau now.

Officially, Kilian Ort is also part of your team - but he hasn't been able to play for almost two years. What is the current situation?

Kilian has recently let it be known himself that he can't think about playing at the moment. But we are waiting for him and are keeping a place open for him.

Without Kilian, however, you only have three players available for the coming season. Will you bring in one or even two more players?

One for sure, but possibly two. We'll have to wait and see how our talks with sponsors go. But we still have time until May 31.

Before the start of the season, you signed Tomasz Kasica from relegated FSV Mainz 05 as part of the professionalization process for the management level. Can you draw any initial conclusions about the collaboration?

He is wholeheartedly involved, is close to the team and organizes a lot. We are very happy that he is joining us, also with his network. We will certainly have a discussion about the possibilities of continuing our collaboration when the time is right.

Thank you very much for the interview, Andy Albert.

Interview: Florian Manzke