Mayor Cinderelk: Life is Theater in Strání

Strání got into the consciousness of the fans not only in the historical advance to the third league.

And despite the fall into the division, the club from Uherské Hradiště boasts a beautiful area, an average visit of 542 spectators or a record of a derby with Uherský Brod. In mid -April there were an incredible 1,524 fans on Zelničky.

“When I recently met ten investors in Prague, I asked them what they knew about Strání. They were people from all over the Czech Republic. Two told me they were cycling on Javořina, three knew the glassworks and four of the football that we were in the third league,” said the mayor of the village and former club head Fc hillside Antonín Popelka the Elder.

Did you get to football in Strání When?
Already in childhood. As little boys we played football. There were not many other options in the village. We wanted to approach older boys, we all ran behind the ball. Previously there was also a volleyball club TJ Spark Strání – Květná. For many years he was at a decent regional level, but gradually fell a little. We also have floorball or table tennis, but football is clearly leading.

Where did you go as a player?
I played football up to 42 years. I went through pupils, adolescents, got into men. Most of the time we started as a hitchhiker, the team also led as a captain. I spent the whole career in Strání, where I played regional competitions. Once I was close to engagement in the new town nad Váhom. With the then third -league team I went through the whole preparation, but eventually came down. It didn’t pull me elsewhere. There were some offers, but I have always refused them with thanks. I always remained faithful to Strání.

Did you know that you would stay with football after a gaming career?
When I ended up playing, I wanted to take a break. But I was only half a year without football. Then he began to rob the section, there were no people who would devote himself to him, so I started training children, later I became an official. I led the first team and for more than ten years he was the chairman of the club. Even now I’m still in the committee, I’m trying to help.

Do you advise your son Antonín, who is in charge of the club?
I leave the main decision to it, but I have an advisory voice. (smile) Every day we talk about football, we deal with different things. There are more of us in the committee, but Tonda has the main say.

Was he the leader at the time he worked in the Slovácko youth?
Tonda loved football since childhood, he was still on the pitch. Soon he went from Strání to Uherské Hradiště, where he went to school, lived at the boarding school, played there for Slovácko. I tried to be close to him, watching every match. I experienced his career just like another parent, but I did not suffer to catch the league. I wanted him to enjoy it to get as high as possible. It was interesting to watch mothers from a distance at the training sessions. Each of them thinks that their son is the best, how the coach is to build it. The sight of the guys is different. We take it more with ease. I am glad that Tonda returned home and helped Strání to several procedures.

Without who football in Strání could not exist?
I have to mention Libor Nuzík, who helps the club a lot. I must not forget the glassworks. Previously, football did not support at all, but with the new owners it changed. We are very happy for smaller sponsors.

How much does the municipality contribute to the operation of the section?
The amount is around a million crowns. We are gradually increasing it due to inflation. Money goes mainly for youth, for operation and maintenance of the premises. The first team works from sponsors.

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Source: Diary/Libor Kopl

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Mayor of Strání Antonín Popelka the Elder in football.

Strání boasts a beautiful area, facilities. How much did the construction of cabins, stands and sports halls come out?
In 2019, the reconstructed sports center won the main prize in the category of implementation of development projects of towns and municipalities, becoming the construction of the year 2019 of the Zlín Region. At that time it cost 27 million crowns, today it would be much more. I am very glad that we managed to add a sports hall, which is connected to the cabins. The hall cost 87 million crowns. I am very glad that we managed to include the cabins and the whole background architecturally in our landscape. Our intention was that the whole building was appropriately incorporated into our White Carpathians.

Is it true that you want to expand the area?
Yes. Currently the village is buying land. If we succeed, we want to expand the area with artificial grass and rehabilitation center with accommodation. Studies are currently being elaborated.

Elsewhere, there are no such areas, right?
When I passed the playground in the third league, I was quite disappointed. Enough areas are neglected. They are not in such a state to attract more spectators. The stadiums are owned by municipalities and towns. I say everything is a theater. Not only football, but also life. And if there is something to happen in the stadiums, people will stay at home.

What else did the season show you in the third league?
We really went to the unknown. We didn’t know what awaited us in the third league. We soon found that the third league was of a high level. It plays quality teams, very good footballers play. It is not easy to keep in it, be competitive. I was mainly sorry about visits. We want to do football for people. Without them it is half. We are quite able to attract viewers to the stadium, but else it is worse. Especially on B -team matches, visits were really low, football does not pull even in much larger cities. In my opinion, the third league deserves much more visits.

The descent has already lost you?
We regret it, but it’s not a tragedy. There are far worse things in the world. I believe that the fans will remain faithful to us that we are putting together a team that will play in the fourth league above. We have an attractive competition, matches with interesting teams, Derby with Uherský Brod. We have something to look forward to.

How do you perceive the rivalry with Brod?
Previously, the biggest derby with neighboring Slavkov was the biggest derby. Gradually, as we proceeded, we wanted to measure with Dolní Němčí, which has always been a football bastion. We walked a step by step and got to the level of Uherský Brod. When I was younger, I went there to look at football. I recall those big visits, matches with Uherské Hradiště or the Old Town. Now we play against each other and I take it as a variegation, the duel of the village with the city. It has a charge, we have someone to snuggle with. (smile)

Did people perceive the hints differently? Did the prestige of the village increase thanks to football?
Certainly. When I recently met ten investors in Prague, I asked them what they knew about Strání. They were people from all over the country. Two told me they were cycling to Javořina, three knew the glassworks, and four knew about the football that we were in the third league.

Strání is not just football, right?
Strání is one of the more uncultural municipalities in the country. After all, we have six dulcimer music, two brass and big beat bands or a theater ensemble. Cultural life in the village is extremely rich. The local fascination festival takes an incredible six days. It is the largest in Europe. Although it is sometimes exhausting, but every time nice. (smile)

Can you relax?
I plan my holiday according to football and music I do. I can turn off for a while, drive somehow, soak up the atmosphere. For the last time we were in Munich on Bayern, and we go to football. It is important to see how it is done elsewhere and can take something from it.

What do you say about the current level of football?
Football stagnates, does not develop, but rather in many municipalities. Players are not as much as before. Especially younger boys are losing interest. I don’t know what it is. Almost everyone played football for me. Now the conditions are far better. We had nothing at all. We played on the cinder, where there was dust in the summer and snow or water in winter. Even though we couldn’t run really on the pitch, we enjoyed it. Today there are beautiful communities and areas throughout the Zlín region, but enthusiasm and interest are not as before. I don’t know what to do with it.