In the autumn of her career, doors opened once again for Kathrin Weiß. She got a taste of the second division with SV Elversberg, and the women's team of 1. FC Kaiserslautern is currently supporting the experienced attacker with her goals for a successful comeback season.
Kathrin Weiß leads the women's sixth division ranking with 33 goals.
Michael Smith
40 years after they were deregistered, 1. FC Kaiserslautern has a women's team for the first time since the summer. Today – a few months after the reintroduction – the newly formed team confidently leads the West Palatinate district league with 33 points and a goal difference of 139:1.
Kathrin Weiß, who has been successfully lacing up her football boots for the Red Devils since the summer, has played a significant role in the renaissance of women's football in Lauteren. Since then, the experienced attacker has netted a whopping 33 times in eight games. You scored a dozen goals against SG Ingelheim/Drais III alone.
“A harmonious team, a change to the club I love and my ambition,” says the trained banker, explaining the reasons for her accuracy. Above all, her ambition, says Weiß, pushes her beyond her own limits. “I wouldn’t describe myself as tactically or technically strong,” the thoroughbred striker, who counts Alexandra Popp and childhood idol Olaf Marschall among her role models, also knows about her minor weaknesses. “But I make up for this with my perseverance, my attitude and my will to absolutely score a goal and win as a team.”
Exhausting time in Elversberg
The native of Kaiserslautern, who lives near the legendary Betzenberg, started playing soccer with the children. But after the D-youth, her football boots collected dust in the closet for several years. She only returned to football after graduating from high school at the age of 19. In the meantime, the now 35-year-old concentrated on cycling. It is all the more impressive that the attacker even played for SV Elversberg in the 2nd Bundesliga for half a year in the 2021/22 season (3 appearances). During this time she “gained a lot of experience,” but also discovered that “a completely different wind blows higher up.”
“We were in Nuremberg, Bayern were with us for the cup game,” says Weiß, mentioning two highlights. “There’s a completely different athleticism and a completely different move. Everything is much faster,” says Weiß, describing her time in the second division. “I took a lot with me. “The feeling that I was simply there, that I managed to be involved there – even if it wasn’t for long – fills me with pride,” she says, and doesn’t want to miss this experience. There were several reasons for saying goodbye for the winter break. “We trained four times a week, I was also studying at the same time – I also worked full time on Friday and Saturday.” At some point this was no longer possible in terms of time.
I am very proud of representing the FCK, as well as being able to help build a completely new team and help move this team forward.
“I was just exhausted and that’s why I decided to return to the region.” Furthermore, says Weiß honestly, “unfortunately I didn’t have much playing time either.” Another obstacle was the barely adequate pay. “You don’t make any money with women’s football so that you can at least say, I only go to work part-time. Unfortunately that doesn’t work.”
GOAL CANNON® FOR EVERYONE
Even today, Weiß holds no grudge against her decision back then, especially since, as is well known, a completely new, exciting door opened for her at 1. FC Kaiserslautern this summer. In the spring, the FCK looked for players for its revived women's team at two viewing dates. White auditioned in March, got the contract and of course didn't have to think twice.
“Playing for the club that I have always been excited about is an indescribably wonderful feeling. I’m very proud of representing this team, as well as being able to help build a completely new team and help move this team forward,” says the ardent FCK supporter, who also has a season ticket for the 2nd Bundesliga.
A win would show me that there is a first-class team effort behind it. Without a functioning team, no goals can be scored and no titles can be won.
Weiß and her colleagues would like to crown the comeback season of the Lauterer women with promotion. We'll see what comes next. That is a dream of the future for the new season. Personally, the experienced striker, who sees a good mix of young and experienced players in the Lauterer women, will be there for as long as possible. “If I stay physically fit and injury-free, then I see the potential to play for a few more years,” is the hope of the attacker, who categorically rules out the end of her career even if she wins the top scorer’s canon.
With her 4.13 goals per game, she currently leads the sixth division ranking of the “Top scorer cannon for everyone”, just ahead of her two Berlin competitors Sanna El-Agha (32 goals) and Zeynep Kucak (31). And teammate Laura König, who would also begrudge White the title, is still well in the race with 28 goals. Ultimately, winning the top scorer's cannon isn't everything, even if it is of course a great thing. After all, every striker would reach for it season after season. The cannon is the reward for hard work. On the surface, however, White is concerned with “moving forward with the team, developing together and getting out of the bottom league.”
“A win would show me that there was a great team effort behind it. Because without a functioning team, no goals can be scored and no titles can be won.” This is another reason why Weiß would be happy to display the cannon in the team’s premises if it is still at the top of the rankings at the end of the season. However, there is still a long way to go before the white trophy is handed over. Weiß is also aware of this, as she doesn't want to set a fixed goal mark, but simply wants to contribute “as many goals as possible” to a successful return for the FCK women.
