The captain’s back and headed for Potsdam

By: Scott | July 30th, 2009

A cruel wiping of my USB drive claimed the original text of this update, so I offer this sad shadow of what may well have been the best thing I’d ever written.

The good news is we’ve got our captain back ahead of schedule.
All presumed that Rolfes, who was gimped by a torn meniscus during training camp, would have to sit out the season start. Instead he returned to training this week and rejoins the squad for the Pokal opener. Clearly illustrating the divide between sports and life, Arturo Vidal was excused from his duties so that he could rush home to Chile to be with his family after his infant son fell ill. More info- and an in-depth look at what we’ll be facing from SV Babelsberg- can be found at the Bayer04 site. The site, btw, looks to be doing a better job than in previous years of keeping English news content on par with the German.

From the Babelsberg perspective, SVB head coach Dietmar Demuth, who served dutifully for the red-black between 1979 and 1983, is hoping Potsdam fans are out in full to give his boys the extra push they need to reach round two. While Rudi Voller ( shown here looking far more at home than he ever has in a suit) speaks with modesty of the challenge we’ll face at Karl Liebknecht Stadion, but something tells me it will take more than chants and banners to topple Leverkusen at this first hurdle.

The match doesn’t appear to be available for viewing anywhere in this country, so I’ll have to deal with the rarely-enjoyable experience watching the Konferenz. If at all possible, I’ll try to get highlights to you post-match.

No movement on the Julien Faubert transfer rumour front, but another bit of murmuring out of Albania has the Werkself in “deep talks” with Ervin Skela. The talented Albanian National Team midfielder was last seen slinking down the fire escape to the 2. Bundesliga with the rest of his Cottbus squad. Skela then opted to leave the club despite being invited to sign a new contract.