BHC maintains advantage over left-handed players and leads the table against TuS Ferndorf
In the second preseason test game for the 2025 Daikin Handball Bundesliga season, Bergischer HC emerged victorious against TuS Ferndorf with a score of 33:26. The game, played on August 9, 2025, took place in Bergischer HC's home hall and was attended by 300 spectators.
The hosts led throughout the match, with the initial cheer from the crowd in Wuppertal's Unihall echoing even before the game began. Bergischer HC had to cope without key players Nico Schöttle (injured) and Lars Kooij (sick), limiting their squad to 14 players.
Despite some initial difficulty in coordination between defense and goalkeeper, Bergischer HC managed to build a 17:14 lead by halftime. They extended their advantage after the break, playing with a faster pace that led to a convincing win.
The top scorers for Bergischer HC were Morante with 8 goals (4 penalties), Noah Beyer with 6, and Steinhaus with 5 goals. Other contributors included Scholtes (4), Wasielewski and Fraatz (2 each), plus individual goals from several others.
TuS Ferndorf, a second-division side, fought well but could not overcome the quality and depth of the Bundesliga team. The game highlights were captured in several live streams available on YouTube, showcasing the overall flow and key moments of the match.
Newcomer Belal Massoud demonstrated his qualities, particularly his jumping ability, in the game. He played over 60 minutes and contributed to crucial turnovers at the end, earning praise from coach Markus Pütz.
The game became unexpectedly exciting towards the end, with several key moments deciding the outcome. Among these were an important penalty for Bergischer HC, earned by a foul on Tomas Babak, which Morante used to score, making the score 30:29 in favour of the BHC.
Aron Seesing scored the last goal of the game 90 seconds before the end, making the final score 32:29. Despite the victory, coach Pütz felt the team could have played better, especially in the first half, where they missed several opportunities to decide the game.
Ceven Klatt, coach of TuS Ferndorf, expressed his disappointment with his team's performance, despite their long fight against the BHC. Meanwhile, Fabian Gutbrod, the Bergischer HC manager, was pleased with the team's victory but felt it could have been more dominant.
In a separate development, Gutbrod announced contract extensions for Djibril M'Bengue and Yannick Fraatz, stating they were signed independently of the league. This ensures the continuity of these key players for the coming season.
[1] Source: Bergischer HC official website [2] Source: YouTube - Bergischer HC vs TuS Ferndorf (Highlights) [3] Source: YouTube - Bergischer HC vs TuS Ferndorf (Full Match) [4] Source: YouTube - Bergischer HC vs TuS Ferndorf (Post-Match Interviews)
The coaches, Fabian Gutbrod from Bergischer HC and Ceven Klatt from TuS Ferndorf, showed their thoughts on football, expressing their opinions on the game's outcome despite their teams' different divisions. Meanwhile, the talented Belal Massoud showcased his skills in sports, particularly his jumping ability, during the game.
