PANTHERS WARNED ‘NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT’

Panthers Wroclaw might be returning to the Olympic Stadium this Sunday, but won’t be assuming a golden weekend despite facing the worst team, statistically, in the European League of Football.

Playing in front of their home crowd after a near month-long break caused by three away fixtures in a row, the Panthers will hope to improve to 4-3 with victory over a Cologne Centurions side that has been shipping points at the rate of 64 a game — and contributing less than seven of their own — but have been warned not to take success for granted. Wroclaw returned from their road series with a 2-1 record, to improve to 3-3 on the season, and beat the Centurions in Cologne to the tune of 57-3 first time around. The German team clearly has significant on-field issues this season and Craig Kuligowski’s squad will hope they continue as the Panthers look for back-to-back wins after seeing off the Fehérvár Enthroners last week.

“You should never underestimate your opponent or assume that the match will be easy, because such an approach can backfire,” Panthers offensive lineman Jakub Gajewski emphasised. “Even Cologne, although considered the weakest team, is never treated lightly by us. We always approach each opponent with full commitment. The crowd is like the twelfth player on the pitch for us — it is always better to play in front of your own fans, as victory tastes the best then. However, it works both ways. In the event of a defeat, I feel as if I have let everyone down.”

The Panthers roster will look slightly different for this game, with defensive back Devan Burrell departing for the Helvetic Mercenaries and fellow American Paul Lewis III, an alum of the University of Akron, replacing him. The Baltimore native excelled at two sports at Archbishop Curley High School, playing both lacrosse and football, before spending five seasons at Cornell University prior to switching to Akron. Although not drafted, Lewis was invited to the Minnesota Vikings May rookie camp and brings extensive experience to his new home in Poland.