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kicked off its pre‑season campaign with a spirited 3‑2 victory against Freiburg on Saturday. Gift Orban drew applause when he found the net in the 49th minute, putting his side 3‑1 ahead. Muhammed Damar opened the scoring early on, and later David Mokwa Ntusu extended Hoffenheim’s lead to 3‑1. Freiburg responded with a late penalty, but Orban’s strike proved decisive.
Orban, who signed with Hoffenheim in January on a deal until 2029, featured 13 times in the Bundesliga last season, scoring four goals. He continued building momentum ahead of the 2025–26 campaign. Hoffenheim face SV Elversberg next in pre‑season action on 19 July.
Editorial
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We believe Orban’s goal encapsulates a new era at Hoffenheim. Pre‑season matches may not count for points, but they matter for confidence, cohesion and ambition.
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His strike not only settled the contest but reinforced his place as a key figure in Hoffenheim’s attack. Aft
Yet it’s not just about form it’s about identity. Orban brings striking instinct, pace and finishing verve qualities Hoffenheim need to climb from last season’s lower‑mid table position. Pre‑season is when ideas are run and reputations built. He’s doing both.bet9ja.com
We see his goal as a message Hoffenheim mean to fight next season, with a striker unafraid to lead the charge. If he picks up where he left off, this campaign could be a breakthrough. It began with a strike it could end with a surge.
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Did You Know?
Gift Orban set the record for the fastest hat‑trick in UEFA club competitions in just 3 minutes 25 seconds for Gent in 2023.
He moved to Hoffenheim from Lyon in January 2025 for €9 million, with potential add‑ons totalling €3 million.
At Stabæk in Norway, he scored 16 goals in 22 second‑division games in 2022, earning him Young Player of the Year.
Hoffenheim averaged the highest number of crosses per open‑play match last Bundesliga season — nearly 13 per game.
Orban’s mother is Togolese, giving him a diverse West African heritage.