Out with the emotion: David Richter screams his joy in front of the Waldemar Klein stand after his successful debut in the starting XI. The “David Richter” chants and the large backdrop were a new experience.
© Hubner
In the 2-0 home win of Kickers Offenbach in the top game of the Southwest Soccer Regional League against FSV Mainz 05 II, David Richter enjoyed his debut as a starting XI and the atmosphere: “I want to show what I’ve got,” says the 22-year-old goalkeeper .
Offenbach – His starting XI debut in the Southwest Regional Football League will be remembered as a regular. “It was pure goosebumps,” said David Richter after Offenbacher Kickers’ 2-0 (1-0) win over FSV Mainz 05 II. After the triumph, the 22-year-old was free to express his emotions in front of the Waldemar Klein stand Easy going and thus also the most loyal OFC fans enthusiastic “David Richter” chants rang out from the ranks, while the goalkeeper dared a little dance.
“I was very happy about that,” said the native of Berlin: “I didn’t even know how to deal with it.” Mood provided, anything but usual. At his first stop in men’s football at the north-east regional league team Union Fürstenwalde, three-digit numbers were more the norm. “There were normally 600 spectators.” Once, during a guest appearance at Chemnitzer FC, he had 5,000 fans against him, he remembers with a smile.
When the emotions were gone after the win against Mainz, Richter, who was scheduled to be number two behind captain Stephan Flauder before the season, realized for the first time what the Kickers had achieved. “I was so focused on the game that I only realized afterwards: That was an important win.” One with which the Kickers reported back in the brutally close promotion race of the regional league.
But David Richter, who unexpectedly became the new number one at the OFC after Flauder’s serious injury, doesn’t like that at all. “I don’t put myself under pressure,” he emphasizes: “I’m generally a rather calm, relaxed guy, so I want to make my team-mates feel good.”
He did that on Saturday, when he did his job soberly, factually and calmly. “He played flawlessly and did it really well,” said coach Sreto Ristic in praise of his new number one, who had actually come to terms with not being able to play behind Flauder. “But the coach always said that I should be ready because things can happen quickly in football,” says Richter. After Flauder broke his shin and fibula in the 0-1 draw against Hessen Kassel, Richter’s chance should come – but only after he had cured himself of a corona infection.
In the 2-1 win at Astoria Walldorf, number three, Angelo Tramontana, was in goal. “I didn’t begrudge him this assignment,” says Richter. And not just because he has a good relationship with all the goalkeepers in his team. Richter also knows what it’s like to just train for months without really having a chance of playing. “It’s not always easy,” he admits. But the goalkeeper with a height of 1.95 meters stayed on, did what the OFC managers around managing director Thomas Sobotzik and coach Ristic had opened up to him as a perspective when he was signed: He developed further in peace, got used to the new environment – and showed itself in training. “It was something completely different at the beginning. I was particularly impressed by the pace and the quality of the squad,” he recalls.
Because the experienced players around Stephan Flauder, but also goalkeeping coach René Keffel (“A cool guy who represents his own opinion”) helped him with the integration, Richter settled in quickly and has long felt at home on the Main. “The move was a good decision,” says Richter. He now lives with his girlfriend, whom he met here. When he’s free, he enjoys walking his dog Friedel on the banks of the Main.
Just not on Sunday. Then Richter went home to his parents in Berlin for the first time in a long time. With a dog and two friends who watched the game on Saturday – and marveled at Richter’s emotional performance in front of the fans. The return trip and the next training session in the evening are on Tuesday. With David Richter as the new number one. “I hope that I can show what I’m capable of,” he says, looking at the remaining ten games. (By Jorg Moll)
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