West League opener

A speedy speedster is not the best omen

Llambay's home game (in green) is also about this Smart (photo montage).(Bild: Andreas Tröster, BSK, Krone Kreativ)

National champions Bischofshofen are thinking "small" at the start of the spring season in the Westliga and are giving away a car. Ernst Lottermoser and his team have to face the derby in Saalfelden. Austria Salzburg wants to take on the pressure. 

Thinking small isn't necessarily the defining credo in Bischofshofen. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that BSK 1933 are doing just that at the start of the spring season of the Westliga. Not in terms of sport, of course. But in a competition that will be held as part of the home game against Rankweil today (14). The Bischofshofen team is giving away a car with free admission: the "BSK-Smart", wrapped with the peaks of the Filzmoos ski resort. 

The person who wins gets to take over the speedy runabout for a week. And can also feel like a (former) coach of the sports club. After all, former coaches such as Andreas Fötschl and Raphael Laghnej have already been at the wheel of the vehicle. Not necessarily the best omen ... 

Current coach Adonis Spica has not yet driven the microcar. Instead, the 31-year-old is looking forward to finally getting started. "The long preparation makes me tired." 

Full of joy at the start
However, Spica had to accept some bad news. Konstantinos Chatzipirpiridis suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will be out for the remaining games. Spica and Co. have big plans: "The goal is the top 3."

A few kilometers over the Dientner Sattel, a hot derby dance is about to begin. FC Pinzgau Saalfelden welcomes TSV St. Johann. It is the start of Ernst Lottermoser's farewell tour. The successful coach is leaving the club at the end of the season.

"It's important to get going again"
"The most important thing is to finally get going again. It's also good that we don't have to travel so far at the start," said the 56-year-old, who wants to hand the team over to his successor as a Western League team. Opposite number Hannes Schützinger expects a "special but tough game. It's always very difficult against them." 

Austria Salzburg face a difficult away game to start the season.(Bild: ANDREAS TRÖSTER)

Austria Salzburg also face a tough task when they meet Silz/Mötz in Tyrol. "Everyone is eager for the game," says Christian Schaider. The Bavarian doesn't waste much thought on possible licensing decisions and their side effects. "We can't influence it anyway." Instead, he sees the pressure on the league leaders as a great opportunity.