3-Cushion
RAVENSBURG/MUNICH/BERGISCH - The German bundesliga, which has been enriched for years with foreign top players, is stronger than ever this year. The highest league is starting off this weekend on Saturday and Sunday (19 and 20 September). Many of the European stars show up and have a shot at the team title. The best known names for this season are Torbjörn Blomdahl, Dick Jaspers, Tayfun Tasdemir, Frédéric Caudron, Marco Zanetti, Dani Sánchez, Martin Horn, Murat Naci Coklu, Eddy Leppens, Jean Paul de Bruijn, Nick Polychronopoulos, Christian Rudolph and Jean van Erp.
The new season has already kicked off slowly: the Bergisch Gladbach team won the German Cup a few weeks ago and Martin Horn won an invitation tournament this weekend.
The German billiard sports, with its organization of the European championships in Brandenburg and the World championship for nation teams in Viersen, is on its way to glorious years. The last good news came mainly from Viersen, that will host the World team championship for the next three years.
Kozoom asked some of the star players on the eve before the league start to their expectations.
Torbjörn Blomdahl - Bergisch Gladbach BC
,,The German league has been greatly strengthened in recent years. The level is higher, not only by allowing a second foreigner. We want to take the title with our team. That is not only the goal, we also have a real chance. The other teams with title chances are Munich and Elversberg.''
Marco Zanetti - BC Munich
,,The German bundesliga becomes more and more important to participate as a player. If you look at the teams, all the big names are here, even more than in the Netherlands, Belgium or France. You can say that the bundesliga is therefore very attractive. There is no league in Europe with so many top matches.''
,,BC Munich will try to finish in the top three. The goal is a medal. I expect Bergisch-Gladbach, Elversberg and Munich on the podium.''
Eddy Leppens - BCC Witten
,,The new rule with the two foreign players, since last year, has given the Bundesliga a boost. It is now one of the best in Europe. And for German players it is even better now, they can play high level matches.''
,,I think BCC Witten has done very well when they finish in the top three. That is the target for this year. Elversberg, Ravensburg, Bergisch-Gladbach, Munich and Witten are the teams vying for the title, but other teams will make it an exciting competition.''
Dick Jaspers - BC Magdeburg
,,The German Bundesliga, in my opinion, is the strongest league in Europe. Ten years ago the Dutch league was the best league, now Germany is even stronger. Most teams have intensified in international players. I think it's gonna be a very exciting season with all these great teams.''
,,Magdeburg can be the surprises. The first goal is to maintain, that must be possible in this line-up. Elversberg, Bergisch-Gladbach, Munich and Ravensburg are the best teams, but there is a very small margin in quality.''
Frédéric Caudron - BC Elversberg
,,The German league indeed has strengthened with all its foreign top guns in recent years. The German players improve themselves in the matches with the international players.''
,,It is absolutely realistic for us that we may be among the best three teams. And maybe we can go for the title. But of course that will require a high level. Will our team be on the podium? That depends on the line-up. The strongest line-up is depends on the sponsor and the calendar.''
,,My prediction: Munich, Bergisch-Gladbach, Elversberg.''
Tayfun Tasdemir - Ravensburger BC
,,The bundesliga has become very impressive with all its strong players. The level is now even higher than in the Netherlands or Belgium. The competition is so strong that we do not have the same purpose to prolong the title. That will depend on the tough competition. But if we get the opportunity, we will certainly try to take the title again.''
,, My top three: Bergisch-Gladbach, Elversberg and Munich.''
Torbjörn Blomdahl
Martin Horn
Frédéric Caudron
Tayfun Tasdemir
Dick Jaspers and Dani Sánchez
Eddy Leppens
Marco Zanetti
The program fort his weekend:
Saturday 19 September:
Ravensburger BC-BC Magdeburg
Bfr Sterkrade-Bergisch Gladbacher
BG Krefeld-BC Elversberg
BC München-BCC Witten
Bottroper BA-GT Buer
Sunday 20 September:
Ravensburger BC-BCC Witten
Bfr Sterkrade-BC Elversberg
BG Krefeld-Bergisch Gladbacher
BC Münche-BC Magdeburg
The most known players in the teams:
Ravensburger BC
Tayfun Tasdemir - Murat Naci Coklu - Ismail Inal - Murat Gökmen
Bergisch-Gladbacher BC
Torbjörn Blomdahl - Martin Horn - Nikos Polychronopoulos - Jens Eggers
BC GT Buer
Raimond Burgman - Michael Lohse - Stefan Galla - Markus Galla
BC Elversberg
Frédéric Caudron - Jean-Paul de Bruijn - Klaus Bosel - Volker Marx
BCC Witten
Eddy Leppens - Savas Bulut - Ronny Lindemann - Volker Baten
Bottroper Billard Akademie
Christian Rudolph - Anno de Kleine - Dustin Jäschke - Dave van Geel
BF Sterkrade-Heide
Jean van Erp - Thomas Broux - Ramazan Durdu - Roger Liere
BG Rot-Weiss Krefeld
Thorsten Frings - Gerwin Valentijn - Barry van Beers - Thomas Kerl
BC Magdeburg
Dick Jaspers - Dion Nelin - Markus Schönhoff - Christian Zöllner
BC München
Marco Zanetti - Dani Sánchez - Johann Schirmbrand - Christos Christodoulidis.