Lousy infrastructure

Turf problems: Now Hartberg is also crying SOS!

Markus Schopp at the training ground in Hartberg - but it remains to be seen how long TSV will continue to train there.

(Bild: Pail Sepp/Sepp Pail)

Hartberg is not only struggling to find a home ground suitable for the Bundesliga, but now the team from Eastern Styria is also at the end of its tether when it comes to the dilapidated training conditions. Because: The pitch is in constant use by (too) many teams and the condition is correspondingly poor. 

Now something has happened again! Soccer fans have been familiar with the Graz stadium problem for years anyway. Furthermore, Styria has recently been shaken by another turf dilemma: Sturm's two-man team has even had to move to Wolfsberg for the time being due to the desolate green in the alternative stadium in Gleisdorf.

And as if that wasn't enough, there is now a third problematic situation! Hartberg's Bundesliga footballers will probably have to move out of their own town sooner rather than later - and relocate to Schielleiten for training!

Chairman Erich Korherr now also has grass worries

(Bild: Pail Sepp)

According to reports, the training pitches next to the Profertil Arena are also not in "outstanding" condition. "We've been able to train on it so far, but I don't know how much longer that will last," said a contrite TSV coach Markus Schopp. He has to share his Hartberg ones on the three courts with the TSV twos, the juniors from the academy and the pupils (!) from the neighboring school in Hartberg. 

Of course, optimal preparation for a match looks different.

Hartberg-Coach Markus Schopp

"Unfortunately, in recent years we have often come last when it comes to assessing the stadium pitch," muses TSV chairman Erich Korherr, whose hands are tied to a certain extent. The pitches are municipal property - and the discussions about the infrastructure with Hartberg politicians are as heated as in Graz.

The next TSV home game will be against Vienna's Austria next Sunday, and until then the team will train "at home". "Of course, optimal preparation for a game looks different," says Markus Schopp.