Photo: Robert Hamrla
Robert Hamrla’s name has been inflected quite a lot in the Czech hockey pond lately. The former goalkeeper and current successful businessman applied for the position of general manager in Zlín and is also the owner of the hockey club in Vyškov. He returns to the 2nd league after years. In the following interview, Hamrla clarifies the vision with which he enters the new chapter.
When did you first come up with the idea that you would buy the 2nd league for Vyškov?
Originally, it was not that I wanted to buy a license for Vyškov. It was a reaction to the offer of Mrs. Gajošová (manager of SHK Hodonín, editor’s note), who offered the license for sale. The fact that the license reached Vyškov is a combination of other circumstances. The general partner of the club is the company STAEG, which is led by a great friend of mine, with whom we agreed that it would be good to play the competition in Vyškov. On the one hand, it is a well-located geographical location and at the same time there is a completely new stadium in Vyškov, which lacked a men’s competition.
In addition, Ms. Gajošová’s condition was that the license should remain in South Moravia.
It is so. We knew that the license of the Brno B team was returning to Znojmo, while Mrs. Gajošová wanted the competition to remain in South Moravia. We are replacing this role because we have a lot of players from Brno and the surrounding area. At the same time, she did not want the license to go to the Czech Republic, because there are already more second division clubs in the Czech Republic than in Moravia.
In addition, you have been involved in hockey for many years. I guess that also helped you in the negotiations, right?
We have known Mrs. Gajošová for a long time. As you said, both my father and I have something behind us in the hockey environment. For many years we organized the Golden Hockey League in Karlovy Vary, my father worked for the union, so the information that the license was available could not have escaped us. Then the negotiations took a rapid turn.
“Ms. Gajošová wanted the license to remain in South Moravia.”
Will you reveal the price of the second division license?
Don’t be angry, I can’t reveal her. We have a contract that the amount will remain undisclosed.
In Vyškov, you practically start from scratch. It must be a big challenge…
It’s a challenge, but we’re not afraid of it. I think my father and I have enough experience with hockey. We know who to deal with or whom to contact. Another advantage is that we know all the managers from the surrounding clubs, so we have an open possibility of cooperation.
How do you and your father divide your roles? On Vyškov’s website it is stated that you are the owner and the father is the general manager.
Originally, it was thought that my father would be the general manager of Vyškov, because I applied for the same position in the selection process in Zlín. But in the end it didn’t work out in Zlín, so now we participate in the management of Vyškov together.
“My father and I jointly manage the club.”
You and your father in the business world pay for entrepreneurs who have always been able to raise funds. What kind of budget do you plan in Vyškov?
Our vision is that our budget for the following season will be around five million crowns.
A decent amount when I take into account the sums that are spinning in other clubs of the 2nd league.
I don’t know how big their budgets are elsewhere. But you have to realize that the starting season is all the more expensive for us because we have to buy a lot of things. For example, gear and so on. There are other items we need to arrange. In addition, it is necessary to invest in a quality playing squad, because I am convinced that the eastern group of the 2nd league is deadly.
“Our vision is that the budget for the next season will be around five million crowns.”
Vyškov’s current squad includes two goalkeepers, nine defenders and fourteen forwards…
It is the squad from which we want to select the axis of the team for the competition. We are also waiting for the end of August, when the first league clubs will reduce their rosters and send a number of players to the 2nd league. We would like to strengthen some of them afterwards. At the same time, we want to have a wider cadre. The 2nd league is a semi-professional competition where players go to work. In addition, injuries and illnesses can occur.
Jakub Čuřík or Tomáš Komínek are currently among the most experienced in your team. Are you planning the arrival of any more resounding reinforcements?
I believe that Tomáš will not be angry with me. We are discussing a form of cooperation together, and Tomáš Žižka should join us after August 13.
Tomáš Žižka could be a good mentor for your otherwise very young team.
I am convinced that this is the right way. We have young guys who are regular players of Kometa, Zlín or Olomouc. They are guys who mostly finished junior and need to rub it in adult hockey. We’ll give them that chance. That’s why we’re here. I myself have two young sons who play hockey, so I don’t lack a hockey sense. I think the space for young people is very important. Look at Dan Šimonů, he fished in Zlín. Then he got a chance in Nové Jičín and last year he was the best goalkeeper in the 2nd league.
“After August 13, Tomáš Žižka should join us.”
One of your most interesting young players is Matěj Sebera, who has started in the extra league and the first league. Despite his young age, he could be one of the movers, right?
As you say. I know him from Zlín, he is a very honest boy. A boy who needs to feel supported. He will have it with us and I believe that he will be among the key players.
Photo: Facebook Hockey Vyškov
You hired Michal Konečný for the post of head coach, who often worked with young players in the 2nd league, of which you also have a lot. Is this also the reason why you chose him?
Yes! I consider Michal a great expert. Every day we call each other and deal with individual players. I think that there are hardly any hockey players in the 2nd league that Michal has not mapped and about whom he could not say a few sentences.
What are your ambitions from a team perspective?
We clearly want to avoid relegation worries. In the group we have Znojmo and Havířov, which are two of the biggest favorites of the competition. Also excellent Nový Jičín, Valašské Meziříčí, Opava or Kopřivnice. I really think it will be a very difficult group and we are preparing for it accordingly.
“I consider Michal Konečný a great expert. There are probably no hockey players in the 2nd league that he does not have mapped.”
I would guess that you are most looking forward to the confrontation with Znojmo.
I am looking forward to Znojmo, because I know the owner of the club, Pavel Ohera. But we cannot compete with this team. I think that Pavel is building a first league team that will play in the second league. (smiles)
Do you fight each other before each other’s matches?
Definitely yes! We are in regular contact. But I say again that we cannot compete with Znojmo. I am looking forward to other teams as well. I know Milan Mikulík in Havířov, Martin Nečas in Žďár nad Sázavou or Martin Vyrůbalík in Hodonín. You can say that we all know each other. That’s why I went for it. I like hockey, I have an advertising agency, so we put it together and I hope that Vyškov will be in the second league for as long as possible.
From the beginning of the interview, we have been talking about the fact that adult hockey is returning to Vyškov after years. So you will have to entice fans again. You are directly offered to use your experience in the business world for this.
Of course! If you look at our website, I hope you can see that we know that marketing is an integral part of the functioning of a hockey club today. For the first home friendly with Hodonín, which will be played on Tuesday, August 9 from 6:00 p.m., we have given a voluntary entrance fee. In addition, we put up posters around the city so that people get used to the fact that Vyškov is hockey again. I think the winter in Vyškov is well known, there is ice all year round and people from all over Moravia come here. But it will be necessary for us to get into them that men’s hockey is being played here again.
“I have it set in my head in such a way that the city should primarily support the youth.”
When I talk to managers of second division clubs, many of them complain about the lack of support from the city. How are you in Vyškov in this regard?
If you look at our logo, it shows the coat of arms of the city of Vyškov. In order to use it, of course we had to introduce ourselves and hold a city council about the permission we were given. Support is not given for the first year of operation of any registered association, but we were told that we can apply from January 1 and that we will certainly not leave empty-handed. But, of course, everything also depends on the elections that will take place.
Could it happen that in the event of a change in political leadership and a possible absence of support from the city, you will reconsider your intention to play in the 2nd league in Vyškov?
Look… I have it set up in my head, and that’s why I ran for Zlín, that the city should primarily support the youth. When we started implementing the plan to play hockey in Vyškov, we went into it with a certain business plan that did not count on money from the city. Of course, we would be happy for any contribution, for example for transport and the like, but you went ahead with it, even though we are not guaranteed any amount from the city.
As I’m listening to you, do you think it’s wrong to come to the town hall with your hand outstretched and just wait to see how much they give you?
You mean Zlín, right? It is not a disappointment to me that I did not succeed in the selection process for the general manager, if there is a private investor who will pay for it and manage it as a company, and the city will support the club in the same way as it supports other clubs in Zlín. I state this publicly all the time. If someone like that can be found, I applaud.
“I knew that the situation was not rosy and that nothing was done until I was sitting in Zlín.”
A few weeks later, how do you feel about not being named general manager of the Rams, even though it was considered a foregone conclusion for a while?
I knew it wasn’t done until I sat there. I also knew that the situation was not rosy and that the three co-owners were not pulling together. I was assured by the representative of the registered association, Tomáš Valášek, that the choice of the city would not be contested. He also gave it to me in writing, but in the end he decided to vote differently. He said he knew I meant well to the club. I don’t want to mess with it anymore. It is up to his knowledge and conscience. They have a club in Zlín and I have a club in Vyškov, and we will continue to work together.
So, in your opinion, there is no danger of a cooling of relations?
I think it would be stupid to make hostages of those young guys who couldn’t play hockey because Vyškov won’t come to an agreement with Zlín. I can’t even imagine it. It certainly won’t happen from my side.
Photo: Facebook Hockey Vyškov
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