1st amateur league: ball on the foot instead of the pipe in the mouth

“I always liked playing football,” explains Knoll. Even as a little boy, he tied the strands of his kicks for the Lana local club very tightly. “When I was 13, I started refereeing a bit as a VSS referee. That was good for me too, so three years later I decided to switch to the association.” There, Knoll quickly climbed up the career ladder; at the age of 18, the shrill whistles of his whistle were already echoing across the league fields. But he wasn't completely happy. “After a while I would have liked to take a step up, but that didn't happen for various reasons,” remembers the Lananer, who lost a bit of motivation as a result and finally decided to switch sides: whistle in the Corner, soccer kick to the foot.

But it wasn't that easy. His last game as a referee was three years ago, but he only played his first game as a footballer for Gargazon six months ago. “I needed approval from the association. Association president Carlo Tavecchio in Rome also had to give his consent. It all took a very long time, but at the beginning of this year's first half of the season the wait was over - also thanks to the help of my club and coach Max Bianchi, who tried very hard to get me released.

The first competitive goal It all paid off on Sunday at the latest: After a corner for Gargazon, the Schlanders defense only cleared the ball briefly and precisely to Knoll, who nailed the ball into the goal with a wonderful volley. It was not only his first goal in a competitive game, but also the 3-1 for the Burggräfler, who ultimately won 3-2.

However, a few questions still remain unanswered. Does Knoll have to listen to a stupid saying from an opponent every now and then? “No, but sometimes people already know me and look at me a little puzzled,” he smiles. And what about wrong decisions made by the referee? “I know from my own experience that the referee’s job is not always easy. That’s why every decision has to be accepted.” In any case, Knoll has already made a profound decision. He prefers to chase the ball instead of pursuing it from a distance with a whistle in his mouth.

1st AMATEUR LEAGUE, 17rd matchday Group A Aldein – Riffian 1:2 Nals – Laces 0:2 Castelbello – Sarntal 1-0 Silandro – Gargazzone 2:3 Kaltern – Merano 1:4 Schenna – Auer 0:1 Bolzano ground – Terlano 1:1

Table 1. Merano 38 points 2. Laces 36 3. Terlano 32 4. Gargazzone 31 5. Scena 26 6. Kaltern 26 7. Silandro 25 8. Riffian 23 9. Except 22 10. Nalles 16 11. Sarntal 15 12. Bozen Ground 13 13. Aldein 13 14. Castelbello 10

Group B Hochpustertal – Olang 1:0 Klausen – Steinhaus 4:2 Pichl Gsies – Haslach 2:2 Schabs – Albeins 3:2 Rasen/Antholz – Milland 0:3 Taufers – USD Brixen 3:0 Mühlbach – Pfalzen 0:2

Table 1. Milland 35 points 2. Klausen 33 3. Taufers 32 4. Haslach 32 5. Palatinate 28 6. Muehlbach 23 7. Schabs 21 8. Albein's 20 9. Pichl Gsies 20 10. Valdaora 19 11. Hochpustertal 19 12. Stone House 16 13. Lawn/Antholz 14 14. USD Brixen 8

SN/td

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

1st amateur league: ball on the foot instead of the pipe in the mouth

Former league referee Robert Knoll has been playing for Gargazon in the 1st amateur league for six months. On Sunday he shot his team to victory with an Arjen Robben memory volley. He tells his story in the SportNews review of the 17th matchday of the 1st Amateur League.

Suggestions

Comments (0)