Great ambitions

How the Salzburg Knights are developing

The Salzburg Knights want to celebrate their second win of the season on Wednesday.(Bild: Salzburg Knights)

The ambitions of the new basketball club in Salzburg were great when it was founded in the summer. In the long term, the Salzburg Knights dream of playing in the domestic Bundesliga. But where do the Knights stand after just under eight months and what are the problems?

The Salzburg Knights see themselves in the national basketball league in the long term. That's why former BBU chairman Raphael Miksch founded the club. He wants to achieve something. Founded in the summer, the Knights are currently in their first season in the national league. They have only managed one win so far. On Wednesday, they want to get their second full success against BSC Salzburg (Sportzentrum Mitte, 8.15 pm).

Focus on development
But for Miksch, it's not about winning for now. "It's important for us to develop the players. Things are happening, you can see that the work is bearing fruit," says the founder, who is delighted with the great response. The club currently has 65 to 70 members, which allows him to take a positive view: "We're doing well for the first year. We will look to stabilize ourselves and build up step by step."

One major problem, however, is the hall. In contrast to BBU, which is permanently housed in the Alpenstraße sports hall, the Knights are at home everywhere and nowhere. The national league team is based in Josef-Preis-Allee, the youth team in the secondary schools and they also play their sport in Schlossalle. "We don't have a home base," regrets Miksch. "You can't grow without indoor time."

The Knights are playing their first season in the national league.(Bild: Salzburg Knights)

So far, they have only celebrated one win.(Bild: Salzburg Knights)

What does he suggest? "You'd actually have to build a new hall." Although politicians are enthusiastic about the club idea, the Salzburg Knights don't really get any help. In the meantime, the club has reached the point where enough children and young people are signing up, but they have to turn them down because of the hall problems and because they also need more coaches.