VfL Lübeck-Schwartau: Niels Versteijnen is moving to TBV Lemgo in summer 2022

Budapest or Lübeck? European championships with the Netherlands or preparation with Schwartau’s second division handball players? On the last day of the year, Niels Versteijnen finds out where he will be in January. Then bond coach Erlingur Richardsson announces his 18-strong orange squad for the EM. It is already clear where Versteijnen’s path will lead after the season. The 21-year-old back space rights will be promoted to the Bundesliga and will move to cup winner TBV Lemgo Lippe in July 2022 with a two-year contract

Also read: Everything about VfL Lübeck-Schwartau

Versteijnen’s return to Lemgo

“It has always been my goal to return to the top division. And Lemgo is the next, a very important step for me, “says Versteijnen and adds:” Coach Florian Kehrmann ensures that he gives young players a lot of play. I want to take advantage of this opportunity. ”There were talks with several clubs through his advisor Marco Stange (former Bundesliga goalkeeper). “But Lemgo was quick for me,” says Versteijnen. Because when the Dutchman moved to Germany almost four years ago, Lemgo was already an option. “I also trained there, but ultimately decided on Flensburg. Now we come full circle. ”

Niels Gerardus Versteijnen (“My grandfather’s name was Gerard. But nobody says the second name here”) came through second division Red Rag Tachos in Waalwiijk (“I played with the men there when I was 15”) and an interlude as a beach handball player (“I have ‘Even played twice EM ”) in February 2018 to Flensburg to the academy and in January 2020 to VfL in Lübeck. Raised in the south of the Netherlands in Berkel-Enschot, near Tilburg, on a farm (two hectares of land, 40 cows), the left-hander has developed from a rough diamond to a jewel at VfL. Like Antonio Metzner before him, who moved to HC Erlangen in 2019. “I still enjoy my time in Lübeck. Apartment, landlord, team – everything fits, “says Versteijnen,” but I’m now looking forward to the next challenge. Until then I will continue to give full throttle for VfL. I don’t want to go as a relegated team. If all the injured come back little by little, we can do it too. ”

After the three extensions remain for Pankofer (Kretschmer, Löfström, Bruhn) now eight contracts that expire at the end of the season. Another extension is to be announced in the next few days. Pankofer’s goal: “It stays that way, I want to have clarity by the end of January.” It is also certain that Matej Klima (contract until 2023) “definitely stays”. The Belarusian champions HC Brest, who play in the Champions League, wanted to lose the Czech international in Lübeck. But VfL does not approve the climate.