Champion manager praises Vechta: "Not like a promoted team"
Sports director Thorsten Leibenath from German basketball champions Ratiopharm Ulm is impressed by Rasta Vechta, who have been promoted to the Bundesliga. "They have a very interesting concept with a big focus on youth development. They have created great structures in the youth sector. They don't play like a promoted team, but like a team that simply has nothing to lose. They are very carefree," Leibenath told the German Press Agency.
The team from Lower Saxony, a city of 30,000 inhabitants, has won six of its eight Bundesliga games so far and will host FC Bayern on Sunday (3.30 p.m./Dyn). "They're a great promoted team who play with confidence. You can tell that they really enjoy basketball," said Leibenath. Vechta could become "that one surprise team" this year, which has happened time and again in recent seasons.
The club was founded in 1979 in a basketball club at a grammar school. The name goes back to reggae legend Bob Marley, whose song "Rastaman Vibration" was playing on the radio just as the name was being found. Vechta last played in the Bundesliga from 2018 to 2021 before being promoted this year.
Despite being promoted, Rasta Vechta's basketball team has managed to impress FC Bayern Munich's sports director Thorsten Leibenath, who commended their youth development and carefree style of play, stating, "They don't play like a promoted team, but like a team that simply has nothing to lose." Even as they prepare to face Bayern Munich in an upcoming Bundesliga match, Vechta's confidence and love for the game have earned them recognition as a formidable promoted team.
Source: www.dpa.com
