“The time is ripe” – Schalke 04 wants to set up a ‘Women’s Football Directorate’
FBL GER BUNDESLIGA LEVERKUSEN SCHALKE
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Schalke sports director Peter Knäbel wants to step up efforts for women’s football at S04. A ‘Women’s Football Directorate’ is to be set up.
So far, FC Schalke has only been active in women’s football as a popular sport. The women’s department at S04 didn’t have any real ambitions. That should change now. “The time is ripe,” says sports director Peter Knäbel.
Opposite of WAZ He continued: “We think the time has come to set up a Women’s Football Directorate.”
At S04 there is currently a first team, a U21, a U17 and a U11. This is to be expanded significantly in the future. “I share the view that the big brands should get involved in women’s football because they can provide the necessary publicity and create the necessary framework conditions. We cannot avoid responsibility, we see the development around us, locally and internationally.” , like Knäbel.
The first women’s team of the Royal Blues is currently playing in the district league, where it is in the lead after three matchdays with nine points and 19:4 goals. “I know the first question is how quickly you can move up the ranks,” said Knäbel. However, short-term goals and rapid advancement to the higher classes are not the focus of the long-term project.
The takeover of a higher-class club would therefore not be an option. “We checked that, but we don’t want to. We need a little patience,” said the S04 sporting director. The big district rival from Dortmund had recently proceeded in a similar way.
Knäbel also focuses on promoting the Gelsenkirchen region: “In NRW we are the football district with the lowest quota of girls’ and women’s teams. The girls and women need a sporting perspective, which we want to give them. However, in cooperation with the other clubs to achieve the best possible for women’s football in the football circle.”
Patience is a virtue at Schalke – also because of financial constraints. Evolution instead of revolution, Knäbel put it: “We got into women’s football by promoting grassroots football and volunteering. That’s how it should stay for the time being, because I don’t want us to hire professionals and imagine any march through. Above all, we have to grow in infrastructure, and that takes time.”
Should the promotion succeed this year, the S04 women would soon appear in the national league. Then four promotions would be missing to arrive in the Bundesliga. Sooner or later, this scenario should become reality – if you are actually seriously and sustainably interested in promoting the women’s department at Schalke.
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This article was originally published on 90min.com/de as “The time is ripe” – Schalke 04 wants to set up a ‘Women’s Football Directorate’ released.