Gelsenkirchen. The head coach of the Gelsenkirchen second division judo team JC Koriouchi still fights himself. But he is slowly planning his retirement as an active athlete.
The fact that he is currently on holiday is not such a bad thing for Shkumbin Dautaj. After the 6:8 defeat against SSF Bonn, the JC Koriouchi coach needed a little time to catch his breath. It was the second defeat in a row for the second division judo team. And like the first, it was “very annoying,” says Dautaj. “We had it in our own hands, I made a bad tactical decision.” The fact that he lost his own fight was also still bothering the 49-year-old.
“We wanted to be up there,” he says. But the two top teams from Hanover and Holten now seem to have pulled away. The Gelsenkirchen team is only in third place. Not a bad result for his first season as head coach of JC Koriouchi, but Dautaj wouldn’t be Dautaj if he didn’t want to aim higher. “I’m having a lot of fun at the moment, but we haven’t had much time to put the squad together. I’m twice as ambitious for the coming season,” he stresses. This is also because it will be his last season as an active fighter.
Active for 32 years, 26 years in the national leagues
He spent 26 years in the Bundesliga during his career. He spent a total of 32 years in a variety of teams. He continues the family tradition that his father started to this day – but only until the end of the next season. “It’s actually crazy to still be fighting in the Bundesliga at the age of 50,” he says. “But when the need arises, the coach has to step in.” For now, it remains a farewell with a back door.
Shkumbin Dautaj, coach of JC Koriouchi Gelsenkirchen. © FUNKE Foto Services | Michael Dahlke
But whether on or off the mat, only one thing counts for Dautaj: “I always go for victory, even if that means taking risks.” His sporting decisions are based on uncompromisingness; with Dautaj there is no “everyone gets a chance”. No, “with me the best always fight,” he emphasizes. There is no room for pity. What sounds like a tough guy is only half the truth. “I’m only like that when it comes to sport,” says Dautaj. No one needs to be afraid of having a relaxed conversation with him.
After the two most recent defeats, there will probably be some need for discussion before the last fight of the season at the Judo Team Holten Men (August 31, 2 p.m.). Dautaj and his fighters from JC Koriouchi still have one goal in mind. “We want to keep third place now,” he says.
2024-07-01 15:41:28
#Fighting #Bundesliga #crazy
