Pongau derby

200th game for St. Johann player against local rival

Benjamin Ajibade (right) plays his 200th game for St. Johann in the Pongau derby.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster)

Anniversary in the derby! St. Johann captain Benjamin Ajibade makes his 200th appearance for his team in the Pongau derby against Bischofshofen. The 29-year-old can look back on many highlights. A current Werder Bremen player was in the starting eleven for Ajibade's derby debut.

There could not be a better match for an anniversary than the derby against Bischofshofen: Benjamin Ajibade plays his 200th game for St. Johann in the Westliga match against the local rivals! "I didn't know that," said the striker in surprise. He is ranked seventh in the club's all-time internal rankings. Emrah Sahin (currently Zell am See) leads this ranking with 294 games.

"I think it's pretty remarkable when you consider where I played before and the soccer training I've had." The now 29-year-old started playing in St. Veit, moved to St. Johann in 2014 and has remained loyal to the Pongau club ever since. As a reward, he has already experienced several highlights: The cup games against LASK at home or Rapid away were "extremely special."

Of course, he also includes his very first derby against Bischofshofen. On August 10, 2018, he was in the starting eleven against BSK and even scored a goal. Dusko Sakan and a certain Marco Grüll, who now plays for Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga, completed the 3:0 away win. The jubilarian knows that such a result is possible again today in his 10th derby: "If we perform like we did last time, there's certainly a lot in it." Bischofshofen must first crack the best defense in the league (three goals conceded).