‚Finding your best possible footnote‘ | Great fun at the HBRS indoor tournament

New signing Niklas Schmidt has quickly settled in at SV Darmstadt 98 and already feels at home in his new surroundings. He has gathered many positive impressions in his first few days and particularly praises the team’s camaraderie and open communication. „The lads are doing a great job here all season,“ says Schmidt, adding, „I feel very comfortable and have already settled in well with the team.“ The positive atmosphere within the squad has made the transition easier and contributed to his rapid integration. Moreover, Schmidt celebrated his debut for the Lilies after just a few days of training: In the 2-0 victory against 1. FC Nürnberg, the 27-year-old was substituted on in the 80th minute and shortly afterwards celebrated his first three points in an SVD jersey.

Niklas Schmidt has set himself clear goals for the coming months, as he made clear in the media briefing. His top priority is the team’s success. „I want to win a lot of games and help the team as much as possible,“ Schmidt explained. He intends to contribute his individual strengths while simultaneously helping to further improve the squad’s quality. He emphasised the importance of integrating fully as quickly as possible. „I’m trying to settle in here as best I can and be fully present as soon as I can,“ he stressed.

The ball is rolling, cheers echo through the Böllenfalltorhalle. Fun, fairness, and team spirit are the focus: On January 24, 2026, Darmstadt became the meeting place for inclusive football. At the HBRS Indoor Cup for Inclusive Football, organised by the Hessian Disabled and Rehabilitation Sports Association (Hessischer Behinderten- und Rehabilitations-Sportverband e.V.) and hosted by SV Darmstadt 98, players from all over Hesse experienced a special tournament day. In qualifying, gold, and silver rounds, the teams displayed exciting and, above all, fair matches. VfB 1900 Offenbach e.V. secured the tournament victory in the gold group, while RSV 1929 e.V. Büblingshausen won the silver group. However, the main focus for everyone was the shared enjoyment of football. The 2026 Indoor Cup thus sent a strong message of inclusion and community in sport.

January 27th is a day of remembrance and responsibility worldwide. On this day in 1945, the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp was liberated. This day of remembrance reminds us that education, critical engagement, and an active culture of remembrance are indispensable – also for us as a club. On the 81st anniversary of the liberation, Darmstadt 98 particularly remembers those members of the club who were discriminated against, persecuted, or murdered during the Nazi era. Their fate is inextricably linked to the history of our club. One of them is Dr. Karl Heß, former chairman of Darmstadt 98. Due to his Jewish heritage, he was expelled from Darmstadt by the National Socialists. Today, the square in front of the Merck Stadium at Böllenfalltor bears his name – as a lasting symbol of remembrance and honour.

After the winter break, the eLilies have restarted their Virtual Bundesliga campaign. The team displayed committed performances in several intense matches. The season began with close games: Darmstadt 98 managed to secure draws against Hertha BSC (5-5) and Preußen Münster (9-9). However, they then suffered defeats against Karlsruher SC (17-9) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (9-4). Further losses followed for Darmstadt against Hamburger SV (7-5) and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (7-6). Many matches were evenly contested, but ultimately decided in favour of the opponent at crucial moments. As a result, the blue-and-whites currently occupy 27th place in the standings. Despite these results, Darmstadt 98 are looking ahead and are determined to secure points in their upcoming matches.