RHEINE, Sep 10 (SW) – Heike Rheine opened the new season in style. Before a respectable crowd of 560, the club won 6-2 against Brauweiler Pulheim. Boardmember Vincent ten Voorde thinks the squad is improving and that the worst times are over.

Ten Voorde states that although Brauweiler lost Sonja Fuss to FCR Duisburg, the 6-2 win wasn’t only due to bad play by the opponent, but also that Heike Rheine have progressed in comparison with last season. Although some new players looked somewhat inexperienced, the overall level of play was good.

Very important is the stay of German national team player Kerstin Stegeman. Due to her experience and charisma she is a very important player for young players in the team.

Off the pitch, a player like Stegeman is good for FFC Heike’s image. A good concept with off course a financial part, kept Rheine and Stegeman together for the coming season. Today, Stegeman and Byto (photo) both scored twice. These experienced women are combined with newly scouted local talents. On the whole the squad has improved, the commercial manager states.

The season goal for FFC Heike is to end somewhere between fifth and ninth place. Ten Voorde states that in the past much talents from Rheine went to other clubs. “We are a club that cannot afford expensive players, much of the players must be from the youth department or talents from the region.”

The budget differences in the Frauen Bundesliga are getting bigger. FFC Frankfurt has a budget of €700,000 and smaller Heike Rheine has a budget of €210,000. Ten Voorde states that: “We have to keep looking at ourselves. When we come with good concepts for sponsors in combination with sportive succes we can win commercialy the next years.” The general tendency is that women’s football clubs in Germany don’t have alot to spend, but for Heike Rheine after some financial troubles last year, the worst times are in the past.

FFC Heike Rheine – Brauweiler Pulheim 6-2 (2-1)

Attendance: 560
Goals: 10. Dyanne Bito 1-0, 19. Dyanne Bito 2-0, 36. Mariana Ciorba 2-1, 50. Kerstin Stegeman 3-1, 57. Kerstin Stegeman 4-1, 66. Melissa Thiem 5-1, 68. Melissa Thiem 6-1, 86. Mariana Ciorba 6-2.