Weibenborn on meteorical rise for Germany

28/03/2003

TIBOR Weibenborn, 22, epitomises the German team's total dedication to
field hockey, as the player already has 146 international matches under
his belt in his four-year career with the national side.
The Germans came prepared with a dossier on their players, and the young
and talented played is noted for being a terror on the right flank.
Weibenborn, who is from Berlin, only started hockey (national team)
three years ago, but has already staked a claim in the inner circle of the
team. He is technically experienced and very fast even though he is the
youngest player in the team.
Coach Bernhard Peters is very happy with his performances in the Azlan
Shah Cup to date and believes that the young player's creativity is a big
asset.
"He is young, dynamic and has successfully adapted to the team as was
shown in the Kuala Lumpur World Cup," said Peters.
The small, dark-haired player started his career at the age of five with
Berlin HC, and was rewarded by the International Hockey Federation (FIH)
with the Most Promising Young Male of 2001 award in Kuala Lumpur, just
before the World Cup.
Weibenborn comes with very impressive credentials. He was in the team
that won gold at the European Junior Championship in 1998 and the
following year, made his debut with the senior team at the European
Championship.
He played in the Champions Trophy in 2000 as well as the Sydney Olympics
which he described as "my most frustrating experience, as Germany failed
to qualify for the semi-finals." Britain edged them 2-1.
Weibenborn joined the German Federal Armed Forces in Sept 2001, and last
October started on a sports degree course.
Peters will surely be banking on the youngster to give his best this
year too as they try to ensure an automatic berth into the 2004 Athens
Olympics by winning the European Championship in September.
PROFILE
Name: Tibor Weibenborn
Age: 22
Caps: 146
Total goals scored: 21
First cap: March 24, 1999
Position: Right flank
Occupation: Student, Sports Degree
Major tournaments: 1998 - European Junior championship, 1999 - Senior team
debut, European championship, 2000 - Champions Trophy (Amsterdam), Sydney
Olympics, 2001 - European Indoor championship, Luzern (Panasonic Cup),
Champions Trophy (Rotterdam), Azlan Shah Cup (Kuala Lumpur), 2002 - World
Cup (Kuala Lumpur)
(END)