Baselland Schwingen (Swiss wrestling) association considers St Jakob area
The Baselland Schwingen (Swiss wrestling) Association has temporarily delayed its organisation of the Federal Schwing and Alpine festival (ESAF) following a petition about its planned location.
The 2022 event was set to go ahead in Aesch however local farmers and environmental groups objected on the grounds that potential damage could be caused to local wildlife and farmland.A petition against the location was on 3 November submitted to the Baselland government. As a result, the Schwingen Association of Basel-Stadt is considering holding the event in St Jakob. In a statement issued on Saturday, organisers said they are currently assessing whether the St Jakob location is appropriate for the major event. If however they consider that the ESAF cannot be held in Basel-Stadt, the Baselland Schwingen Association wants to talk again to the farmers involved. Everything will be done in accordance with the wishes of the landowners, the statement said. If the big event does not receive approval in Basel-Stadt nor in Baselland, the organisers said the ESAF will not take place in Basel at all. The last time such an event was held in the St Jakob area was in 1977.
FC Basel does not expect any more gifts from Sion
Almost unbeaten but still unhappy: That is the summary of FC Basel in the second half of the 2016 season however coach Urs Fischer remains relaxed and is looking forward to the Sunday away game in Sion.He was speaking at a regular Super League press conference on Saturday at St. Jakob-Park. It was attended by half a dozen local journalists and a well-tempered coach, who made an effort to answer every question. Recalling his days as a football player, Urs Fischer said he does not have good memories of the «Tourbillon» stadium, the home of FC Sion. An away game against FC Zürich at the stadium was lost with a score of 6:1.«The Tourbillon was a fortress» he recalled, adding that it was still unpleasant to play there. «FC Basel has a positive balance but Sion is always very difficult,» he said.This memory does not spoil his good humour since "one grows with the task at hand and in the Swiss championship FC Basel can still win, even when they do not play brilliantly." The success of the Basel team proves URs Fischer right: «I am not concentrating on the results of other teams, but we have to do our job». He said they would focuses on their own tactics and the techniques of the opposite team.Triple pressureFC Basel is under triple pressure with the Champions League, Super League, and Swiss Cup. But is this all too much?«We always take something from every game», the coach said. «We were in Sofia and on Sunday we play in Sion. The distances and journeys are not important. We should be grateful that we can experience this,» he said. Pressure as a privilege - one can see it this way too.Winning without shining, plus two draws against PFC Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League, is not showing the team at its best. But how does the coach expain this phenomenon?«We sometimes really struggle and we also need some luck. We don't get any gifts.» Today, Fischer has called on his team to dominate and take the initiative.«A good balance has something to do with effort, performance, and rhythm,» he said. «The only thing which isn't right in our Champions League campaign are the results.»Weak and without passionWhen Fischer says that, for him, everything else in the Champions League was going well, one might not completely agree with him. The team plays its programme too weak, with not enough passion, and sometimes too cowardly.Regarding the game last Wednesday, one might think that the team is preparing for a showdown against Arsenal in their upcoming game. The Basel players were so indecisive near the goal, and even the creative engine Matias Delgado was very disciplined and quite far at the back. There is some comfort however. Urs Fischer has a plan.«In the coming week we have training, where we can exercise moves and tactics,» he said. And even better: The team will have a day off. Serey Die and Michael Lang are also making a return after taking time off to recover from injuries. That is good news ahead of the Champions League group stage highlight in St Jakob Park against Arsenal on 6 December.