Football Meets Fussball – The Vienna Vikings Kicking Challenge
A kicking challenge of a special kind took place on Wednesday morning at the Vikings Football Center. Markus Suttner, former FK Austria team captain and now B2B employee at the Violets, as well as Andy Ivanschitz, long-time professional - among others in the USA - and current sports director at First FC Vienna, came as guests to the Vikings training center and tried their hand as football kickers.
A professional instruction as well as tips & tricks were given in the two very enjoyable hours by Sebastian Daum, who now acts as kicking coach of the champions. Daum played soccer himself for years, thus has insight into the proverbial 'Best Of Both Worlds'.
Coach Daum had planned the morning through perfectly. After a warm-up round, Messrs. Suttner and Ivanschitz, along with the two actual kickers on the Vienna Vikings team, Caspar Prill and Oskar Herz, got down to business. The Ivanschitz/Herz and Suttner/Prill pairings kicked field goals from further and further away and stayed level for a long time before the FK Austria duo of Markus Suttner and Caspar Prill won by one point. The impressive distance of 52 yards was achieved by the ex-Austrian Suttner, who obviously enjoyed kicking the ball. At the end of the kicking challenge, the Vikings kicker unit, to which Andy Ivanschitz and Markus Suttner now belong as "honorary members," made a fitting break.
Statements of the day
Kicking Coach Sebastian Daum: "Awesome. The two lads have shown full commitment, as well as an avalanche of talent. They have simply been professionals over a long period of time, with an incredible feel for the ball. You can see that just by the way they can implement simple instructions and tips at lightning speed. Markus Suttner, in particular, would be a giant kicker in American football in just a few months. We are already looking forward to seeing Markus again in Generali Arena on June 17 and Andy on June 24 at Hohe Warte. I think the two will pay particular attention to the performance of the Vikings kickers then."
Markus Suttner, FK Austria Wien: "The Kicking Challenge was really fun. It was a great experience, I always wanted to try it out properly, because I really enjoy watching American football games - the NFL, of course, but since last year also the Vikings in the European League of Football. On June 17, I'll be live at the Generali Arena for the Vikings' home opener and will be cheering along. If there is a successful team in a city, you should stand behind it, no matter what sport."
Andy Ivanschitz, First Vienna FC: "During my active time in Seattle, I naturally watched a lot of American football - live in the Seahawks stadium but also at BBQs and invitations from American teammates at home. Football is omnipresent in the USA and a thrilling sport. I can only recommend everyone to watch the Vikings games here in Vienna, and I am happy that the champion will play three games at the Hohe Warte, where many Vikings triumphs have already taken place. For me, today was a premiere and it was huge fun."