09.02.2009, 12:30
Mamelund starts well in Flensburg

The strong Norwegian player seems to fit in quickly.

Mamelund starts well in Flensburg

Erlend Mamelund made his debut in his new club, Flensburg. His debut (35:30 against GWD Minden) was a successful first test.

His presence could be well seen at this game: with his 1,97 meter of height and big blond hair he was “shining” in the middle of the defence. Mamelund with Johnny Jensen built a Norwegian middle block in the 6:0 defensive wall.

“It was superb,” praised them the goalkeeper Dan Beutler. “In the first 20 minutes the Minden players could not do much against them.”

The 24-year old, who just arrived from Nordhorn, did not want to take the credit alone.

“I had a good feeling,” said Erlend Mamelund. “Finally, a world class player, Johnny, was defending next to me.”

He had just arrived from HSG Nordhorn and very quickly he had to step on stage.

As it happened that during the World Championship the Norwegian team bus arrived too late to Zadar and Flensburg’s manager, Fynn Holpert, had to leave to the airport by that time, they could only communicate via telephone and fax.

Erlend Mamelund had already signed a two-year contract with FC Kopenhagen and it will enter into force next season.

“I would have liked to change earlier,” he admits. “However, it was not possible for Copenhagen for financial reasons.”

At that point Flensburg made an offer and the player and his father – also his advisor – did not have to think much about it. The words of Johnny Jensen dismissed all doubts definitively: “Just come to Flensburg,“ he tapped him on his shoulder. And Erlend Mamelund knew from this gesture that it would be better for him to play near the Danish border than in Nordhorn.

His new club is very satisfied with him so far. He shot four goals on Saturday. His team mate hopes that they can even keep him at the team at the end. ”Though he is not world class yet, he has good abilities,” says Johnny Jensen. “We must keep him.“

TEXT: Jan Kirschner