Tasmania fears losing 'Bundesliga chokers' badge to Schalke

Tasmania Berlin fears losing its toriety if Schalke finally takes away its record for longest winless run in Bundesliga.

If Schalke doesn’t beat Hoffenheim at home on Saturday, it will tie Tasmania’s league record of 31 consecutive games without a victory from 1965-66 season.

Tasmania is proud of its record, even going so far as to describe itself as “historic Bundesliga chokers” on its Twitter p. It also describes itself as “worst Bundesliga club of all time” on its website.

“It’s become a calling card for us,” club chairman Almir Numic told local brocaster Rio Eins this week. “If you consider last few years, we’ve been getting a lot of attention because of this record. Without this negative record, body in Germany or Europe would speak about Tasmania Berlin.”

Tasmania, which is based in souast Berlin borough of Neukölln, w plays at fifth-tier level.

“We’ve never seen it as a negative thing. re are certainly clubs that would say, ‘Why do you see this as something positive?’ and I would say, ‘Better to have that kind of media attention than media attention,’” Numic said.

Tasmania fans have been doing ir bit to try to hold on to old Bundesliga record. A small group of supporters tried encouraging Schalke before its game at Hertha Berlin last weekend.

spectators are allowed at any Bundesliga games due to restrictions and a lockdown against coronavirus, so supporters held signs outside Berlin’s Olympiastion saying, “That’s our record!” and “Save record for Tasmania!” while displaying Tasmania scarves, flags and banners.

It didn’t work.

Schalke lost 3-0 and was fortunate t to lose by more in Christian Gross’ debut as coach. Gross is alrey Schalke’s fourth coach of season and his team provided little evidence that it can stop its barren run against Hoffenheim.

“One thing we shouldn’t forget: We mand record in one season, while Schalke will do it – could do it – over two seasons,” Numic said.

Schalke, which hasn’t won a league game since Jan. 17 last year, is a seasoned Bundesliga contender, backed by energy giant Gazprom. It has just four points from its opening 14 games this season.

Gelsenkirchen-based club’s plight is far worse than Tasmania’s given historical differences between clubs.

Tasmania was clearly out of its depth when it was promoted to Bundesliga for political reasons in 1965. Hertha h been relegated for making illegal payments to its players and league authorities wanted to replace it with ar from West Berlin in what was West Germany’s soccer league at time. Tasmania wasn’t even first choice, but it accepted league’s invitation to play.

Tasmania started with a 2-0 win over Karlsruher SC but h to wait ar 31 games for its next win, 2-1 at home over Borussia Neunkirchen in penultimate round. Tasmania finished with a 4-0 loss at Schalke.

“Our humor, our typical Berliner humor, certainly played a role in us t becoming resigned, but for every game we said, ‘Each game starts 0-0,’” said Hans-Günter Becker, who was Tasmania captain at time.

Tasmania went through financial difficulties until it was declared bankrupt and disbanded in 1973. Its successor was founded as SV Tasmania 73 Neukölln same year, when many club officials and players me switch to new club. It was renamed SV Tasmania Berlin in 2011.

Tasmania is currently top of its fifth-tier Oberliga but season was suspended after nine rounds due to coronavirus. players can’t train toger due to restrictions.

“We’ve learned to cope with pandemic. For first two weeks of first lockdown it was very quiet at club. We sat down with some club officials and coaches and came up with a plan for revating our stium,” Numic said. “During lockdown period, while respecting coronavirus restrictions, with fans, with members, with parents and with coaches on board, we completely revated stium. You could see potential behind club n, pride that’s re – also with negative record.”