Rottenberg helping holders rally

UEFA Women's Cup holders 1. FFC Frankfurt have made a good start to the new season - and even before their quarter-final encounter with Norway's Kolbotn IL there is a special occasion coming up for new goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg.

Flying start
The experienced German No1 joined Frankfurt in the summer to link up with national team-mates including Kerstin Garefrekes, Renate Lingor, Birgit Prinz, Sandra Smisek, Steffi Jones, Sarah Günther, Pia Wunderlich and fellow new signing Petra Wimbersky. And on Sunday, Rottenberg is likely to be in the side as Frankfurt visit her previous club FCR 2001 Duisburg. Frankfurt began the season in fine form with a 7-0 win at newly-promoted VfL Wolfsburg, who subsequently defeated ailing Bundesliga champions 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam. Garefrekes struck a hat-trick, new arrival Wimbersky claimed two goals and Prinz and Smisek were also on target.

Confident mood
Frankfurt's next game at home to FFC Heike Rheine was then postponed as they were in Helsinki for the UEFA Women's Cup second qualifying round, defeating Universitet Vitebsk, Breidablik and hosts HJK Helsinki, scoring 12 goals and not conceding once. That has allowed Duisburg to go top of the nascent league, but Frankfurt are in confident mood after Rottenberg, Garefrekes, Lingor, Prinz, Smisek and Wimbersky all played their part in the 3-2 win in Russia that took Germany to the FIFA Women's World Cup finals with a perfect record. After the Duisberg encounter, they have a Wednesday trip to Oslo before welcoming Kolbotn to Frankfurt for the return eight days later.

'Crucial game'
Coach Hans-Jürgen Tritschoks said ahead of the Duisberg visit: "It is a crucial game for both teams and for us an acid test prior to the quarter-final against Kolbotn IL. If we can stop Duisburg early from building their game and keep our concentration, then I am optimistic that we will be successful after the wins in the UEFA competition and against Wolfsburg. For our new goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg the match on Sunday will be a special one as she played in the Duisburg goal for three years and will face her former team-mates for the first time. Anyone who knows this Word Cup-winner is aware that she wants to keep a clean sheet and give 100 per cent"

Absentees
He added: "Luckily the internationals have returned fully fit from the World Cup qualification. I am afraid we have to do without Steffi Jones who only started jogging again this week. Also on the sidelines are Sarah Günther, Pia Wunderlich and Karolin Thomas. But Petra Wimbersky has overcome her groin injury."