Prussia Max Shrugs Off Setbacks
Windows of opportunity might break open now and then, but true resilience comes from being able to bounce back from setbacks. That's exactly what we see with Prussia Max, the underappreciated goalkeeper for Prussia Münster.
Overcoming Adversity: Despite losing his regular spot, Prussia Max (Maximilian Schulze Niehues, 35) remains unbreakable, ready to step back into the limelight when chance calls.
Münster's third-division footballers will battle for a semi-final berth in the Association Cup against Oberliga side Erkenschwick on Saturday (1pm/Stadion an der Hammer Straße). Meanwhile, Prussia Max's rival, Johannes Körber (20), is representing Germany's U20 team in Romania and against England.
The Road to the Top: Prior to a stomach and intestinal infection in mid-October, Prussia Max had solidified his spot as the undisputed number one for the "Black-White-Greens," delivering top-notch performances in the first eleven league games.
Unfortunately, his absence due to illness allowed the more opportunistic deputy Schenk to seize the opportunity to shine between the posts, leaving Prussia Max on the sideline for two critical matches (Dresden 0:1, Regensburg 1:2).
A Season of Challenge: While the head coach Sascha Hildmann (51) initially went with his trusted second-stringer, Maximilian Schulze Niehues, the long-serving professional, has shown remarkable mental fortitude.
"Honestly, I hadn't expected that," he confesses. "I started the season with high ambitions, wanting to prove I could still play at third-division level. I think I did well at it."
Yet, his future in the team is still uncertain, with his contract ending in summer 2024. Discussions with sporting director Peter Niemeyer (39) remain a topic of conversation, most likely to be handled during the winter break.
Competition Reignites: Competing against talented players is nothing new in Prussia Max's experience. He's faced this situation before in 2018 while wrestling for the starting spot with Niels Körber (27/Hansa Rostock). Despite his initial struggles, Max eventually regained his position.
Now he finds himself in the position of challenger once more, focusing on his training and preparing for the second half of the season. Prussia Max is the embodiment of resilience, refusing to bow down in the face of tough competition.
Meanwhile, the DFB has scheduled four more third division matches, with Prussia München scheduling a home game against SC Verl on December 10, a home match against Spielvereinigung Unterhaching on December 16, and a match against BVB U23 on December 20. The arch-rivalry derby against Arminia Bielefeld, set for January 21, 2024, will kick off at 13:30 at Hammer Straße..
Prussia Max's unwavering determination and exceptional resilience in the face of adversity have been a shining example for the whole team. Even if he's currently on the bench, he never fails to bring his A-game, always ready to snatch the opportunity when it comes his way.
