Bruneck aims to finally achieve promotion this season. © Instagram / David Laner

Bruneck's coach: "We're focusing on ourselves"

This weekend promises exciting matches in South Tyrol's amateur leagues. After top team Bruneck suffered a setback in the Landesliga last weekend, we asked their coach, Roberto Fuschini, a few questions.

March 13, 2026

From: av/sn

While the Oberliga features three exciting South Tyrolean derbies – Brixen vs. St. Georgen, Ahrntal vs. Virtus Bozen, and Tramin vs. Gröden – league leaders Bruneck are looking to get back on track in the Landesliga after their recent defeat. Despite this first setback in a while, the traditionally successful Puster Valley team remains optimistic in their bid for promotion to the Oberliga. Here are four questions for Roberto Fuschini (Bruneck coach):

SportNews: Was the 0-1 defeat against Gitschberg Jochtal a slip-up at the right time?

Roberto Fuschini: Losing always hurts. It was a slip-up. We lost a game where the opponent put in a strong performance but never shot on our goal. It was an own goal after a cross where no opposing player was involved. There's no reason to make a drama out of the defeat. We've trained very well this week, and I expect a reaction on Saturday in Schenna – not in terms of our play or fighting spirit, because everything went well against Gitschberg Jochtal. But in terms of the result.


How do you explain the excellent start to the second half of the season with four wins in four games?

Fuschini: I have to give my team a huge compliment. We even had temperatures as low as minus twelve degrees Celsius, and the pitch was often frozen. And: since January 7th, we've only had half of the training pitch available. There's only one artificial turf pitch in Bruneck, which four clubs have to share. Tactical work isn't possible in this limited space. And then there's the whole story with our goalkeepers.

The Bruneck coach believes in his team. © Instagram / David Laner

What about them?

Fuschini: Our regular goalkeeper, Marco Mittermair, suffered a double fracture of his fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle during training, without any contact from another player. He will be out for many months. Marco Razzano, our U19 goalkeeper, played against Salurn and also got injured: a torn meniscus. In the derby against Stegen, Daniel Zimmerhofer, who most recently played for the veterans in Percha, was in goal. We can't thank him enough. Then, through contacts of a former teammate of mine, we came across Aquiles Antonio Egidio. He comes from Rome and, among other things, won the Oberliga in Lazio. He was in Venezuela when we contacted him. He immediately left and joined us. He was born in 2003 and is a real asset.


Is the seven-point lead a comfortable cushion?

Fuschini: It's a good cushion, and it's an advantage we want to maintain. But we're not looking at Naturns or anyone else, we're looking at ourselves. We have to remain confident in our quality and continue to work well, consistently, and with focus. Football is football, not mathematics.

State league, 21th matchday

Saturday
Gitschberg Jochtal – Wine Route South (15.00 p.m.)
Schenna – Bruneck (3:30 p.m.)
Stegen – Terlan (3:30 p.m.)
Lana – Freienfeld (16.00 p.m.)
Salurn – Gargazon (5:00 PM)

Sunday
Latsch – Naturns (15.00 p.m.)
Natz – Cherms Marling (15.00 p.m.)
Olimpia Meran – Voran Leifers (15.00 p.m.)

Oberliga, Matchday 23, 3:00 PM

Partschins – Benacense
Tramin – Gherdeina
Bozner FC – Lavis
Comano – Levico
Union Trento – Mori
Brixen – St. Georgen
Rovereto - St. Paul's
Ahrntal – Virtus Bozen