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Interview: Frederike Bittner (FFC Heike Rheine)
FFC Heike Rheine will have a difficult season 2005 / 2006. The club had some financial troubles and the seventh place of last season was a bit of a blow. In spite of all this goalkeeper Federike Bittner (18) changed from FC Gütersloh (2. Bundesliga) to the all ladies club from Rheine. Women Soccerway asked some questions to the seven times German U17 international.
<b> Hi Frederike, how do you like your new club and do you miss your old one? </b>
I really like my new club FFC Heike Rheine. I like the people, they are very nice. The practice at Rheine is very good quality, especially the goalkeeping practice. I think that will help to improve my game. Everything is more professional than in Gütersloh, without saying that it was ‘not’ professional in Gütersloh. I don’t miss Gütersloh as a club, maybe I miss some of the people. I still have contact with people from there and that’s enough for me.
<b> What is the difference between the two clubs? </b>
In Gütersloh we always played our own game, at Rheine we try to adapt our play to the opposing team. I think adapting is not a bad thing. On the whole it’s more achievement oriented at my new club. Don’t forget we are playing for the existence of FFC Heike Rheine.
<b> How many hours a week do you drive when playing at FFC Heike? </b>
When we have a match at the weekend and three practice sessions, it’s around ten hours.
<b> You played four Bundesliga games, you conceded ten goals. Was there any goal in which you made a mistake? </b>
I think I made some mistakes in two goals. All the other goals I don’t really know if I made mistakes. After the match you can discuss about goals for a long time. But I made a decision at each situation, I don’t know what would have happened if I reacted in an other way.
<b> What was your finest save and what was your finest match untill now? </b>
One of the better saves was in the match against Brauweiler Pulheim. I run out of my goal and kicked the ball away before Sonja Fuss’ feet. I think it was a good save, I prevented a hugh change before the chance even existed. The games against FCR 2001 Duisburg and Brauweiler were my best ones.
<b> Where do you think FFC Heike Rheine will end this year? </b>
I think we won’t get relegated. We have to work very hard for that, but it’s our aim to not let it happen. No player wants to drive as far as we do to play in the 2. Bundesliga. And no one wants to go to an other club in Germany or even the Netherlands (Rheine is situated near the Dutch border and has some Dutch players). We are a team on and off the pitch and I think we will make it.
<b> Which is women’s goalkeeper do you think is the best in the world? </b>
I can’t judge who is the best goalkeeper in the world. But I think Silke Rottenberg and Briana Scurry are very good ones.
<b> Do you ever dream about following up Silke Rottenberg in the German team? </b>
I think all goalkeepers who have ones or more worn the outfit of the German national team are dreaming of it. But a dream stays a dream if I don’t work for it.
<b> Which part of your goalkeeping practice needs to be improved if you ever want to reach Rottenbergs level? </b>
I need to coach more and organize my team. I need to have more courage to fly to high and wide balls in my penalty box. But most important, is to practice all facets of the goalkeeping game again and again. I’m 18, so I am still young, every practice and every game will improve my play.
<b> Finally, how do you think FFC Heike Rheine will play in the next game against SC Freiburg? </b>
I don’t know. On the one hand it’s difficult because we haven’t played for a long time by then (four weeks). On the other hand I think SC Freiburg is one of the teams we can beat if we work hard and give the best we can.
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