“Lions have no chance against Corona”

Created: 03/14/2022, 20:27

By: Nick Scheder

"I was received without any animosity, very honestly, very warmly by everyone": Ralph Bader (right, with ECT President Hubert Hörmann) has been the managing director of Tölzer Eissport-GmbH for six weeks now.

© Tölzer Löwen

In an interview: Tölzer-Löwen boss Ralph Bader about the tumult at the start, calm and three blondes.

Bad Tölz – He has had a turbulent start.

But that wasn't because Ralph Bader, as a native of Garmisch-Partenkirch, took over the helm at Riessersee's arch-rival Tölzer Löwen.

But rather to interference fire in the area.

Surprisingly, after the first six weeks as managing director of the Tölzer Eissport-Gesellschaft (TEG), calm has returned – at least on the other side of the ice.

But the 57-year-old is by no means idle, as he assures in the interview.

First of all, it's about staying up in the league for his Tölzer Löwen in the DEL 2, planning for the coming season, squad and liquidity of the club.

Mr. Bader, a short quiz for a Garmisch-Partenkirchner.

The club colors of EC Bad Tölz: black and yellow or yellow and black?

(hesitates only briefly) Black and yellow.

"Sons of the mountains..." what's next?

Uff...no idea.

So there is a need to catch up.

"...baptized in the Isar.

Grown together, not bought together” continues.

Okay good.

We have to go back there.

also read

Schröder in Moscow: First information about the talks with Putin - the ex-chancellor is apparently planning the next steps

Gerhard Schröder could act as a peace mediator in the Ukraine conflict.

But the former chancellor had recently come under sharp criticism.

There could be results on Saturday.

Schröder in Moscow: First information about the talks with Putin - the ex-chancellor is apparently planning the next steps

No immediate Kyiv attack?

Kremlin spokesman explains Putin's original plan - and change of tactics

The Ukrainians' resistance is having an effect on the Russian position, their President Zelenskyy is certain.

Will new negotiations bring progress?

News ticker.

No immediate Kyiv attack?

Kremlin spokesman explains Putin's original plan - and change of tactics

How do you generally feel as a Garmisch resident in Bad Tölz?

Absolutely okay.

I was received without any animosity, very honestly, very warmly by everyone.

There was no bad word towards me.

It went easier than I expected.

The old rivalry between Tölz and Garmisch - nothing to feel?

No problem.

There was no headwind.

I have the impression that the Tölzers are waiting, seeing how things develop, maybe lying in wait.

On the contrary: I approach the fans at the tables after the game.

I experience that the enmity of Garmisch-Tölz was lived with pleasure.

But they don't exist anymore?

No, not with me, I now give everything for the Tölzer Löwen without reservation.

What is your balance of the first six weeks?

It was difficult to get into the whole organization when you actually don't find any organization because there are no longer any staff.

I was clearly saved by the ECT, who supported me every day with advice and action.

And with Steffi Kathan we have finally found a new employee for the office alongside Gisela Andrä and Marion Buchwieser.

Now I have my three blondes in the office, you can live with them quite well.

Are you now prepared enough to concentrate on your original tasks?

Yes, I still ask a lot of questions.

Where is this, how did that and that happen.

But I'll get the answers somehow.

What we lack is a bit of time.

When the sport is over, we can concentrate on the core business: getting sponsors and – very importantly – keeping them.

And of course set the sporting course.

Do you already have a financial overview?

If the requested aid and support is paid out, there is no need to worry.

We have no liquidity problem.

There is nothing to prevent us from receiving the requested funds, which should arrive in the coming weeks.

You experienced a start with background noise, but now things have calmed down?

The start was ready for Hollywood.

But it only took two weeks to calm things down here.

The disruptive fire went out very quickly.

Since then there has been peace and togetherness.

Also because of the cooperation between ECT and TEG.

In terms of sport, things didn't go quite as well as you had hoped when you took office: now it's against relegation.

When I started here, there was a realistic chance that we would finish in the top ten.

But even the Tölzer Löwen don't stand a chance against Corona.

That's why we're now playing for relegation.

Because we no longer had a chance of getting anywhere.

Because of Corona, and because the mistakes from the past were fatal because the squad is far too thin for a DEL 2 professional team.

There are also 150 absences due to injuries and Corona this season.

That's 25 percent failures, no team can cope with that.

The consequence is that you play play-downs.

The problem is homemade, because you have such a thin squad that has to work every two days.

After all, they are only people, not machines.

But you still manage to hold the class?

Yes.

We mustn't whine, we mustn't make excuses.

Everyone has to be ready, team, coach, manager.

Everyone has to identify with the situation.

You can also get something positive from the whole thing: After the Corona break, we improved in every game - up to the remarkable win against Landshut.

We now have a new goal and we want to achieve that.

It starts from zero.

...and it's best to end it quickly: In the second play-down round, the big tremors would begin...

It doesn't matter how many games we stay up in the league, whether in 4 or 14. You can't control that, that's the sport.

But I'm sure that if this team is complete in this formation, they have the quality to stay up in the league.

Not much can happen.

It will not be a walkthrough for any of the four playdown teams.

What role do the viewers play?

We want to turn the play-downs into an event.

The team's run-in alone will change, and everything around it will improve.

We try to do everything.

But I appeal to the fans, to former players: When it comes to staying up in the league, it doesn't matter whether I have to wear a mask or whether I can drink beer.

No excuses, we want to see as many of the 3,000 spectators allowed in the stadium as possible.

I want to grab every fan's honor, they should stand behind their flagship, the south curve has to shake - home game atmosphere!

The next season depends on the outcome of the play-downs.

But are you already busy planning?

Clear.

There will be changes.

I have one or the other player in mind, and have side conversations.

But we want to achieve one more goal.

Players will also leave us.

But I also expect them to give their last shirts.

What are the construction sites?

In Tölz we have to realize that the land of milk and honey is over, that for us in the DEL 2 it's always about sporting survival, about staying up in the league.

Nice that there are many smaller sponsors here, in the coming weeks we will also be looking for larger ones.

In the team we need a mixture of foreigners, our own – young and experienced – and foreign players.

The important thing is that every young player who has talent and puts his heart into it will play.

This is the foundation.

And everyone can now recommend themselves for a contract extension.

You already have a black and yellow business card – when will you be moving to Tölz?

I live where others vacation, have my family there, and that's how it should stay.