Offensive weapon

Pinzgau fuzzy head on the upswing after injuries

Raphael Streitwieser (center) is a lively attacking player for the Pinzgauer and will face his former club Grödig in the cup.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

He was rarely on the pitch in the fall, but in the spring he's a mainstay: Raphael Streitwieser is one of Pinzgau's offensive weapons and scored his first goal again on Saturday after a long period of suffering. On Tuesday, Saalfelden face his former club Grödig in the cup, while Kuchl host St. Johann.

Raphael Streitwieser has never played more than 20 games in a season since the 2018/19 season, scoring his last goal on 6 May last year against Kufstein - until Saturday. He scored for FC Pinzgau in a 3:2 win against Dornbirner SV. "I was injured for a long time (note: I was out for five months with pubalgia), so it's a really good feeling when you score again," beamed the 24-year-old. He is set to play an important role in the offense this spring.

The lively mop of hair is a constant source of trouble, always driving opponents to white heat. "I look up to these types of players. I hope I can get halfway there," says the midfielder, whose footballing home, apart from a five-year intermezzo in Grödig, has always been Pinzgau.

Now he hopes never to see the injury devil again. Who knows where he might then go. Streitwieser is at least dreaming: "The wish is to get higher up. We'll have to see how successful that is. I hope that I can convince one or two people."

He also wants to impress with FC Pinzgau on Tuesday in the Cup at Grödig (18.30). "We want to get to the final. Winning the cup would be a cool thing," says Saalfelden coach Schützinger. In the second semi-final, Salzburg league leaders Kuchl host Westliga side St. Johann (19.30). "We'll rest a lot of players who are a little bit injured. I don't think either of us will take any risks. Basically, of course, we want to reach the final," says Thomas Hofer, coach of Tennengau.