April 20th, 2009
Last Saturday more than three million people saw floorball on TV in Germany. German entertainer and comedian Stefan Raab played against his guest Oku on a small field with little goals. The five minutes lasting match was part of the Pro7 tv show ‘Schlag den Raab’ (Beating Raab). Follow this link to see the match. Floorball is still unknown in some parts of Germany, so ‘Schlag den Raab’ was a good promotion for the game. Constantin Sicking, vize president of the Nordrhein-Westfalen Floorball Federation explained the rules.
Information: German Floorball Federation
Picture: Nordrhein-Westfalen Floorball Federation
February 24th, 2009
Dominic and Manuel Mucha are German twins playing for HC Rychenberg Winterthur in Swiss Mobiliar League. During WFC 2008 in Ostrava and Prague they belonged to team Germany. The Germans didn’t lose even one single point and finally won the B-Division, which allows them to take part in WFC 2010. Dominic and Manuel were among the five best scorers of the tournement. On the weekend worldfloorballnews met the two brothers.
wfn: Dominic and Manuel, you both were born in Switzerland. What clubs did you play for in your career?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: When we were kids we played for StaWi Olten and SV Wiler-Ersigen. Afterwards we played for UHC Grünenmatt.
wfn: How are you connected with Germany?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: Our father is German. After WFC 2004 we joined the German national team.
wfn: Do you think Germany would be able to keep pace with the teams of Swiss Mobiliar League?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: If team Germany played only with its best ten players, we would be able to reach position six in SML.
wfn: What do you think about the improvement of the team members playing in Bundesliga (Germany’s 1. Division)?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: That’s hard to say. The most important players of the national team, such as the Holtz brothers were born in other countries and play abroad. But we have good juniors in Germany.
wfn: Dominic, you were on the second position of the scorerlist of B-Division during WFC 2008 with incredible 10 goals and 12 assists. Only Frederik Holtz, German top star playing in Svenska Superligan, was better. Your comment?
Dominic Mucha: It just worked well. The ball sometimes simply found the way into the goal. I had strong players in my formation. They supported me well. I’m very satisfied with my achievement. I really played on my top level.
wfn: Did you expect Germany to be so dominant during WFC 2008?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: We knew that we have a chance to win the B-Division. With players like Fredrik Holtz (among the top scorers of Svenska Superligan!) in our team a failure would have been a disappointment. But our domination nevertheless was astonishing. Only the semifinal against the USA was heavy-going.
wfn: You have a important role in your club team Rychenberg Winterthur. Are you satisfied with your progress?
Dominic Mucha: I’m not really satisfied. I want more points and I’d like to carry more responsiblity. In summer we are going to leave Winterthur. One hour drive is too far from where we leave. Maybe we will even play in the NLB (2. Divsion).
wfn: What’s your career goal?
Manuel Mucha: We want to belong to the top eight nations at WFC 2010 in Finland.
wfn: Do you get payed by HC Rychenberg Winterthur
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: We get expenses reimbursed. That’s a little money. But you can’t earn money with floorball in Switzerland.
wfn: Are you interested in the development of floorball in Germany
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: I follow the results of my teammates which play in Bundesliga. From our point of view the problem of floorball in Germany are the long distances. It’s still a amateur’s sport and the top teams really have to travel hundreds of kilometers.
wfn: What do you think about the future of floorball in Germany?
Dominic Mucha: In my opinion the aim should be to have 50′000 licensed players in 20 or 25 years.
wfn: When will Germany catch up to the top nations?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: In 2010 narrow results should be possible. Estonia can be an example for us (6-7 against Switzerland). In ten or twelve years we can surprise one of the top four nations.
wfn: How many years does it take until floorball will be an Olympic sport?
Dominic and Manuel Mucha: We hope in in five years. But an Olympic floorball tournament in 25 years is more realistic.
Dominic (on the left) and Manuel Mucha
Photograph Matthias Dudli
Interview Matthias Dudli
