Kostanaj (from our correspondent) – The often controversial man of Czech football, Vůch, is currently playing in the fourth Austrian league from Pregarten. He claims that the door to the highest Czech competitions is already closed.
What went through your mind after it became clear that Tobol and Pilsen would meet?
I just remembered a transfer from Pilsen to Tobolu Kostanaj. I thought to myself, what a coincidence. But it also occurred to me that it would not be easy. In Kazakhstan, the squads change a lot, clubs often rely mainly on foreigners. I think that Pilsen will do well at home, but they have to get a good result away from home.
What can the Kazakh opponent surprise the Czech team with?
It will really be a lot about the specific environment. I don’t know how it is now, but back then people were really into it. The atmosphere can be unpleasant. It’s been about five years since I worked in Tobol. As I say, everything changes there every year and it depends where the bigger money is at the moment. When I played, Astana and Kajrat Almaty were the best, followed by Tobol. I saw parts of their last matches, Kazakhstan will be very tough. It is possible that they will be half as much in the return.
They say that Kostanaj is not as developed as, say, Astana or Almaty. Do you agree?
It is clear that this is not Europe, the conditions are different in all respects. You immediately realize that you are somewhere else. The environment will be very difficult. When I arrived there, I was in shock. On the other hand, Pilsen is used to traveling and playing similar matches. It doesn’t really surprise them, as I mentioned, it will be a lot about foreigners. A lot of Balkans have always gone there, so it depends how they want, they have a slightly different mentality. Kazakhstan is generally specific, the games were often played on artificial grass, the infrastructure of the stadiums resembled friendly matches somewhere in a housing estate. It will be important to set your head and not deal with things around you.
Also, the main stadium used to have artificial grass?
Not here, it was natural, but it took a lot of training for the artificial one. As I recall, the stadium was not closed, it had two opposite stands. People quite walked and could create a boisterous environment.
How do you feel about the new season in Pilsen so far?
It’s probably not what everyone expected. The program is difficult and I know for myself that it is not easy to play more competitions, I think that Pilsen will get going and do well. They have a wide and high-quality staff. Everyone says they don’t read newspapers, but they actually look at what is written. They’ve been in a bit of a slump, but they’ll pick themselves up. Mainly, I think that they will manage the double match with Tobol and advance to the basic group.
So you trust the Victorians more?
At the moment it’s about 60 to 40 for Pilsen for me. If the Kazakhs won, God forbid, by two goals, they would start defending and it would be very difficult to get into their defense. They are tough, run-on. If Plzeň does not lose the first match, it will go on.
Which of the Pilsen players caught your attention the most?
I always liked Honza Sýkora, we used to play together. Now he is injured and misses a lot. But the bench is of good quality and ready. Pavel Bucha also looks good, which is important. The duels with Tobol will be very much in the center of the field and there Plzeň must outplay the opponent. Her players have what it takes.
Are you still following Tobol too?
I was in Kazakhstan for about 19 months, half a year in Tobol and a year in Karaganda, where I probably have more friends. But I am watching Tobol, after all, I spent part of my career there and I have good memories of the engagement. I scored my only senior hat-trick there, the only one in the first league. I don’t even have that in the Czech Republic, so great memories.
Keep in touch with someone?
From Karaganda yes, but not so much in Topbol. Maybe two or three players remained from my time there, the squads really change every six months, players go from one team to another. But I didn’t talk to anyone from Tobol or Pilsen before the match, I didn’t pass on any information. With today’s technology, everything is much better and faster, Pilsen has this at a high level.
In the past, you made no secret of the fact that you took Kazakhstan for money.
I definitely got the important stuff I needed done. But of course it hurt me in terms of football. If I had held on and gone to another offer from Europe, it would have definitely been better for my career. Of course I couldn’t know that. Reason was different at 26 than it is now. If I could take it back, I would go to Europe. As one goes outside of it, one is lost. Moreover, with Kazakhstan, everyone knows that the player goes there for money.
Where is your career going at the moment? You no longer continue in Domažlice.
I am in the fourth Austrian league and I must say that it is good. I never thought the competition would be of such quality. In my opinion, better than what I was in Domažlice, i.e. at the level of the second Czech league. We have completed the first three rounds and I see that there are footballers who finished in the first Austrian league and went somewhere lower, where there is money and they play in peace. But they have great quality.
What led you to move abroad?
I knew that the door to the highest competitions was closed in the Czech Republic. I know that no one would reach out to me because of my past. When the agent contacted me that there was such an option, I knew that it was the right solution for me at the moment. Nobody cares what someone did before, they just look at the performances. This is the best I could do in my situation. Besides, I’m not far from the border.
So there was no attempt to try the first or second league in the Czech Republic?
One person, who has a big say in Czech football, told me that it would be best for me to play abroad, that no one would marry me in the Czech Republic. I’m not crying, I took it and I want to try to play in Austria. It doesn’t say anywhere that I can’t go higher. Maybe in half a year, in a year, when I know how it all works here.
You are 32 years old, after a knee injury. Where else are your sporting thoughts going?
Above all, I want to be healthy, my knee is holding up and it hasn’t limited me for the last two or three months. I have no fear. Now I want to succeed in Austria. As for football, I certainly have no plans to return to the Czech Republic, but to finish it here. I think I’m doing very well, I don’t feel thirty-two, nor does anyone tell me that.
This kind of closes the circle, Pilsen has new Austrian-Swiss owners. What do you think about this move?
I guess in the situation they were in, it’s a relief. Only good for them and hopefully the club will be saved. I had news that he was about to quit altogether. People in Pilsen would not tolerate that. I wish them that there is no problem with finances, that football is played at the highest level, as everyone is used to. People would not forgive further failures.
2023-08-23 09:36:45
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