Big events in sight

Magical year awaits street wizards

Stefan Federer (in yellow) is hoping for a World Championship ticket.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

A Salzburg street soccer team led by high-class technician Stefan Federer wants to qualify for the World Cup in Latvia. Before that, however, the players have another major event in the Baltic States to look forward to. The sport with the round leather has experienced a boom in the past.

"The development that street soccer has seen in recent years is huge. The sport is only going to get bigger." Stefan Federer is enthusiastic about the growing popularity of street soccer. The lower house footballer, who now laces up his boots for Ostermiething in Upper Austria, is one of the best street soccer players in Salzburg and has already represented Austria at events all over the world.

He and his colleagues have numerous major events coming up again this year. "There's a lot in store for us, it's a real highlight year," says the 33-year-old, who recently won a World Cup qualifying tournament with Julian Feiser, Kenan Sejdic and Dilan Mojica.

"When we play, we want to win the title"
Federer knows: "Now we have to win the final tournament in June, then we'll fly to the World Championships in Latvia." However, the high-class technician will probably travel to the Baltic States earlier anyway in order to compete in the European Championships there. "I definitely want to compete, but the other lads don't yet know whether it's possible in terms of time," says Federer and makes it clear: "If we play, then we want to win the title."