Bakgårdsklubben KFUM Oslo is for the first time in the club’s history ready for the Eliteserien in football, which starts on Sunday. It does not only cause attention in Norway.
The English major newspaper The Guardian has devoted space on Thursday to a larger case about “Kåffa”.
– It’s a bit of fun for us, the tiny club at Ekeberg, says the club’s general manager Thor-Erik Stenberg to Dagbladet.
It is not everyday that the English press mentions the start of the Norwegian series.
– It is first of all very nice that they are interested, and then it says something that what we do is so different from everyday life – that it is an Askeladden story that is interesting, says Stenberg.
Photo: Facsimile The Guardian
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– Is this possible?
The Oslo club moved up to the second highest level for the first time in 2016, but moved directly down again and stayed in the 2nd division for two seasons. Now they are already at the highest level. The Guardian refers to the YMCA’s sunshine story as “ridiculous”.
– They ask themselves: “Can this work? Is this possible? Can this be true?”, says Stenberg and continues:
– And then you can say that other clubs in Norway have shown the same. Jerv has the same kind of history, so we are not unique in the Norwegian context in that sense.
One thing the English newspaper notices is that the players have to cross the main road from the dressing room to the stadium. The first two games of this year’s season will be played at Intility, but the rest will be held at Ekeberg.
– It is quite unique in Norwegian and international football to be at the top level. We have seen photos from many stadiums in the world, but this one is special. And then it’s a “gimmick”, because it’s not optimal, but that’s what we have to offer in the Eliteserien, says Stenberg about the crossing of the road.
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– Grudge us
According to Stenberg, the fact that the Eliteserien will be played in Ekeberg gives extra local involvement and excitement in the local area. He believes it is almost as important as the sporting results.
– How is the atmosphere in the club so close to the opening?
– Now the tension is starting to get here, we are starting to feel it now. We grumble and wonder where we stand in relation to everyone else. We have faith that this will carry for us.
– How big is the belief that Kåffa will stick around?
– It’s big. I think we will hold our own, maybe a little more than that too. I have faith that we should avoid lying down in the swamp there. So we’ll see, concludes Stenberg.
