Boss diagnosed with cancer

After the shock: “We’ll fight for Walter!

Captain Strießnig sets the agenda.(Bild: GEPA pictures/ Wolfgang Jannach)

In the play-offs, Ferlach's handball players want to surprise Übermacht Hard in the quarter-finals this Friday. And the boys are also fighting for their boss, who has cancer. . .

At 10 a.m. on Friday, Ferlach's handball players will travel the 550 kilometers to Hard by bus. One of the players who actually wanted to go will be missing: Walter Perkounig Jr. The Rosental boss still has to undergo three days of chemotherapy due to his cancer. "But my thoughts are with the boys - they'll make it!" hopes the 56-year-old ahead of today's first play-off quarter-final game in the "best of 3" series.

Boss Walter Perkounig is watching the game from his sickbed.(Bild: Kuess)

And that's why captain Flo Strießnig has a very big motto today: "Guys, we're fighting for Walter too!" The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been an integral part of Ferlach since 2014 and has been through the club's ups and downs with Perkounig. "His illness was a shock for us. We will come even closer together for him, want to give him strength - and will give everything to create a sensation!"

Krobath and Co. want to topple Hard.(Bild: Bernd Stefan)

The sensation would be truly huge if Strießnig & Co. were to win today as underdogs against the title favorites and basic round winners: Firstly, because Ferlach have not yet won a single quarter-final in their recent eight-year history in the first division. Secondly, because they have only managed one away win at the Vorarlberg club - in 2019 it was 30:27 in the first round!

Back then and today: Strießnig, Flo Ploner, Adonis Gonzalez, assistant coach Miro Barisic (who turns 47 today!) as well as Mathias Rath (unavailable) and the questionable Mladan Jovanovic. "That shows that Hard is not invulnerable!" says Strießnig. "We have nothing to lose!", says Perkounig, who will have to watch the match on krone.tv at 7.30 pm from his sickbed. For everyone else, there will be public viewing in Ferlach's hall!