Mönninghoff-comeback: BG Göttingen hopes for trend reversal in the derby!

BG Göttingen faces major challenges in the current basketball season. Captain Mathis Mönninghoff gave his comeback on January 6, 2025 after he was injured for three and a half months. In an exciting game against Würzburg, which ended with 78:79, Mönninghoff played 13:36 minutes, even though he had expected only three to four minutes. The record player of the BG Göttingen, who had already completed 385 first division missions in his career, expressed that he was missing the necessary speed and the specific training condition after the long break.

Mönninghoff had last played on September 22, 2024 before he forced health problems to take a break. After the bitter defeat against Berlin, which Mönninghoff called the low point, he spoke about the urgent need for a team meeting and noticed that the next three games, including a derby against Braunschweig and two games against the MBC, are decisive for the future of the team. BG Göttingen has currently lost 11 out of 12 games in the current season and occupies the last place in the table.

personnel setbacks and new obligations

In addition to the difficulties on the field, the BG Göttingen must also cope with personnel setbacks. Mönninghoff fails for an indefinite period due to health problems. The team forces this situation to look for a replacement. Kostja Mushidi was obliged to fill the gap caused by Mönninghoff's failure. The 26-year-old Mushidi, who previously played for the Syntainics MBC, received a two-month contract with the option for extension.

head coach Olivier Foucart emphasized the need to find a German forward with first division quality. Mönninghoff remains in medical care, while Mushidi is expected to be medical checks in Göttingen on Tuesday. Mushidi, who born in Belgium and grew up in Düsseldorf, can look back on a promising career. From 2021 to 2023 he was a top performer at Syntainics MBC and brought it to an average of over 27 minutes and around 12 points per game.

In his youth, Mushidi was considered a great talent, debuted at the age of 15 and signed his first professional contract at SIG Strasbourg at the age of 17. Although he could not gain a foothold there and later switched to KK Mega Basket in Serbia, he celebrated success with German junior national teams, including the MVP award at the Albert-Schweitzer tournament 2016 and the European Championship Bronzemedaille 2018 with the U20 team.

Mushidi is estimated not only for his previous services, but also for his training in the youth field and his skills on the pitch. The BG Göttingen hopes that Mushidi can help to cope with the sporting challenges in the current season and to compensate for the position of the captain.