Footballer Promitzer

Switch to arch-rivals? “For no money in the world!”

Stefan Promitzer (on the ball) has been a pillar of the Giants' game for years.(Bild: Kunzfeld & Kunzfeld)

The Graz footballers will play internationally again on Saturday for the first time since 2016. The last time they competed, the Giants won the CEFL title. Stefan Promitzer was there back then and remembers. And he also tells us what connects him to Sturm legend Jakob Jantscher.

The footballers of the Thalheim Graz Giants have won ten championship titles in their 43-year history. However, the last one was 16 years ago. However, the last big party was in 2016 - on July 3, Belgrade was held down 52:49 in the final of the Central European League.

In the four AFL games to date, the Giants have run their opponents into the ground.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

And this is exactly the division the team from Graz will be playing in again this year for the first time since winning the title. Kragujevac Wild Boars - the Serbian champions - are coming on Saturday (3pm). Perhaps a good omen. "The anticipation is huge, we'll see where the journey takes us," Stefan Promitzer is already on fire. He is one of only three players in the squad to have already celebrated in 2016. "I always like to think back, those are great memories. I can still remember the game itself and the celebration. It's my only title with the team so far, that was amazing!"

For the young Giants team, however, it is also a great opportunity to grow. "In the last two years, we've always lost our nerve a bit in the semi-finals of the AFL," says the automotive technician, for whom this is his eleventh year in adult football, hoping that this knockout phase will help the rest of the season. "But my personal priority is the AFL title, I'm still missing that."

This year marks the 29-year-old's 19th season as a Giant.(Bild: Kunzfeld & Kunzfeld)

The veteran has been playing for Graz since 2006. A move to Vienna, for example to the Raiders Tirol or the Vikings, was never an issue. "Never, those are my arch rivals! That would be like Sturm legend Jakob Jantscher moving to the GAK. For no money in the world," grins the soon-to-be 30-year-old. "If an offer had come in, I wouldn't have stayed in Austria, I would have gained international experience."

The Raiders and Vikings are my arch-rivals, I would never switch to them. That would be like Sturm legend Jakob Jantscher going to GAK. For no money in the world!

Stefan Promitzer

This is another reason why Promitzer can already say one thing: "I will end my career with the Giants at some point." When that will be is still written in the stars. "I've been talking for three or four years anyway," laughs the defensive man. "Maybe this year after the AFL title. Or next year after my 20th season. As long as it's fun, I'll play, because that's the most important thing!" Even if it now takes longer to recover after games than it did a few years ago.